American-based striker Denis Bouanga arrived late after an almost 24-hour flight from Los Angeles but shrugged off the jetlag to bag a hattrick on Wednesday as Gabon easily beat Seychelles 4-0 in their World Cup qualifier.

Bouanga, who plays in Major League Soccer for Los Angeles FC, did not train with the side before the match which Seychelles were hosting in nearby Mauritius because of the lack of their own adequate stadium.

In the absence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bouanga proved the hero to help Gabon secure top spot in Group F.

They lead African champions Ivory Cast by two points but the Ivorians have a clash against Burundi in Abidjan on Friday, which they are expected to win to go back to the summit of the group before traveling to Gabon for a crunch clash in Franceville on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old Bouanga’s hat-trick was completed in just over 30 first half minutes.

Yannis M'Bemba got the fourth in the last minute.

Wednesday’s game was the first of two rounds of African qualifiers being played daily until next Tuesday.