Ethiopia ended Mauritania's faint hopes of advancing to the second phase of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers after thumping the West Africans 6-1 on Sunday.
The home side had their way in the Group Eight game in Addis Ababa and also keep alive their hopes of catching up on leaders Morocco and Rwanda.
Strikers Teferra Fikru, Andualem Nigussie and Mohamed Mesud grabbed a brace each as the East Africans eased to the convincing win.
The visitors got their consolation through Taghiyoullah Denna in first-half injury time but the defeat means Mauritania are eliminated from any chance of advancement.
They are yet to gain a point with only two matches remaining.
The win leaves Ethiopia with six points, just three behind joint-leaders Morocco and Rwanda, who are level on nine points.
Morocco went back to the top of Group Eight with a 2-0 win over Rwanda on Saturday.
The win in Casablanca ended the 100 percent record of Rwanda and took the Atlas Lions to nine points, same as Amavubi.
Captain Youssef Safri converted a penalty in the 11th minute to give the home side the lead at the Sportif Mohamed V Stadium.
Nabil El Zhar sealed the victory four minutes after break with a strike from the edge of the box.
Rwanda played the last 23 minutes with 10 men after defender Patrick Mafisango was sent off.
Morocco will travel to Ethiopia for the next round of matches in September while Mauritania host Rwanda.
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