Several Ligue 1 players featured as a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang-inspired Gabon beat Mali 4-3 in Beauvais in a friendly international thriller.
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The two Francophone African sides met in Beauvais as they sought to put disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaigns behind them.
While Gabon named 10 of the 11 starters who featured against Equatorial Guinea in their final Afcon group match, Mali, under the stewardship of former Senegal coach and France legend Alain Giresse named a much-changed XI.
The match was a terrific spectacle, with an Aubameyang-inspired Gabon emerging as 4-3 winners.
Molla Wague opened the scoring for Mali, before Malick Evouna equalised soon afterwards after some fine work from Girondins de Bordeaux man Andre Poko.
A set-piece led to another goal for Wague, before Aubameyang scored from the penalty spot past En Avant de Guingamp stopper Mamadou Samassa.
The Dortmund forward then fired the Panthers level after substitute Bakary Sako had again given the Eagles the lead with a freekick past Gabon keeper Anthony Mfa Mezui, of FC Metz.
Finally, Cardiff City defender Bruno Ecuele Manga—formerly of FC Lorient—settled it with a powerful header, giving Gabon a superb 4-3 triumph.
Lloyd Palun of OGC Nice also started for Gabon, while Mali called upon LOSC Lille youngster Adama Traore, Guingamp man Sambou Yatabare, SC Bastia right-back Drissa Diakite and Toulouse midfielder Tongo Doumbia.