The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has named Johnny McKinstry as the new head coach of its men’s senior team.
McKinstry, a Northern Irishman renowned for leading Gor Mahia to consecutive Kenyan league titles, has signed a two-year contract effective June 1.
The GFF has tasked the 38-year-old with securing qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
McKinstry’s debut matches as head coach of the Scorpions will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Seychelles and Gabon on June 8 and 11, respectively.
The Gambia is currently positioned fifth in Group I, having suffered defeats in their first two games against Burundi and Ivory Coast.
McKinstry brings with him prior international experience, having coached Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and Uganda.
His predecessor, Tom Saintfiet, guided The Gambia to their inaugural Nations Cup appearance and secured consecutive qualifications for the finals.
During their first appearance at the postponed 2021 edition, the Scorpions reached the quarter-finals but were defeated by hosts Cameroon. They exited at the group stage in the 2023 Nations Cup earlier this year.
Saintfiet resigned after their final group match, ending a six-year tenure during which he improved the team’s world ranking by 42 places.
The Confederation of African Football has yet to conduct the draw for the 2025 Nations Cup qualifying groups.
Qualifiers are anticipated to take place in September, October, and November this year, while the dates for the finals in Morocco next year have not been confirmed.
