Irish tactician Jonathan McKinstry is the new Gambia national football team coach.
The Gor Mahia coach was appointed the new head coach by the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) on Tuesday.
The Northern Irishman, who has successfully led Kenyan giants Gor Mahia to successive league titles, has been signed on a two-year contract, effective from June 1.
McKinstry, 38, has been tasked with securing qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
His tenure will begin with the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Seychelles and Gabon, scheduled for June 8 and June 11, respectively.
Currently, The Gambia sits fifth in Group I after defeats in their opening matches against Burundi and Ivory Coast.
Reports indicate that McKinstry was chosen from a competitive shortlist that included former England centre-back Sol Campbell and ex-Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure.
The decision to appoint McKinstry reflects the GFF’s confidence in his extensive international experience, which includes previous managerial roles with Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and Uganda.
McKinstry succeeds Tom Saintfiet, who resigned following The Gambia’s group-stage exit at the 2023 Nations Cup earlier this year.
Saintfiet made history by leading The Scorpions to their first-ever Nations Cup appearance and achieving back-to-back qualifications.
Under his guidance, the team reached the quarter-finals in their debut tournament in 2021 and significantly improved their world ranking by 42 places.
The GFF is hopeful that McKinstry’s proven track record and resilient spirit will propel The Gambia towards new heights on the international stage.
The draw for the 2025 Nations Cup qualifiers is yet to be made, with matches expected to be held later this year, and the finals scheduled to take place in Morocco, though the exact dates remain unconfirmed.
As McKinstry prepares to take the helm of The Scorpions, the footballing community will be watching closely to see if he can replicate his success and steer The Gambia to greater achievements in African football.
