Gor Mahia's Jonathan McKinstry is close to finalizing a two-year deal as Gambia's head coach ahead of World Cup qualifiers.
Record FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia are likely to lose head coach Jonathan McKinstry to The Gambia Football Federation (GFF),as negotiations near completion for a two-year contract that would see him take charge of the national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
McKinstry representatives recently met with GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo in Banjul to discuss contract details.
Sources indicate that the agreement is close to being finalized and McKinstry would replace Tom Saintfiet, who stepped down following Gambia's elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to Gambian newspaper The Standard, “The two men's appointments were being finalized as we went to press yesterday evening,” suggesting that Abdou Jammeh, a former Gambian international player, is also being considered for the assistant coach role.
The GFF aims to solidify their preparations for the qualifiers in June, with Gambia positioned in Group F alongside Kenya, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Gabon, and Seychelles.
Gambia will host Seychelles on June 3 before traveling to Gabon for a June 10 fixture in the third and fourth matches of the qualification rounds.
During his tenure at Gor Mahia, which began in July 2022 McKinstry navigated significant challenges including a FIFA transfer ban and a thin squad.
Before joining Gor Mahia, McKinstry served as the head coach of Uganda's national team, achieving a commendable 67% win rate from 18 games and steering the Cranes to victory in the 2019 CECAFA Challenge Cup.
His coaching journey also includes stints with Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and Bangladesh Premier League club Saif SC.
Update: McKinstry has been confirmed as the new Gambia coach
Report from African Football.com
Johnny McKinstry has been named as Gambia’s new head coach after a successful two-year spell with Kenyan giants Gor Mahia.
The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) had been looking to fill the void left by Tom Saintfiet’s departure in January following the Scorpions’ failure to progress beyond the group stages at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
McKinstry guided K’Ogalo to back-to-back Kenyan Premier League titles after an 18-month stint with Uganda, while he also had short spells with Sierra Leone and Rwanda earlier in his career.
The Ulsterman has been handed a two-year contract by the GFF and will begin work on June 1, with his immediate focus on the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Seychelles and Gabon.
The West Africans are fifth in Group F after losing to Burundi (3-2) and Ivory Coast (2-0) in their opening two qualifiers under Saintfiet in November last year.
“The GFF wishes to congratulate and welcome our new gaffer Jonathan McKinstry on his appointment as Scorpions Coach,” Gambian football’s governing body announced on Thursday.
“Johnny, a former Sierra Leone, Uganda and Rwanda coach is the current manager of Gor Mahia FC in Kenya and will take over from 1st June, 2024.”
