By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

Johnathan McKinstry has been appointed as new head coach of The Gambia national football men’s team on a two-year contract. His main objective is to secure the team’s place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) wishes to commend and welcome the new gaffer Jonathan McKinstry on his appointment as Scorpions Coach.

Former head coach of Sierra Leone, Uganda and Rwanda is the current manager of Gor Mahia FC in Kenya and will take over from the 1st of June, 2024 as Head Coach of Gambia.

The 38-year-old Northern Irishman and one-time Leone Stars coach who fills the vacuum has left the Belgian Tom Saintliest, has extensive coaching experience in Africa.

He came out on top after 90 initial applications was eventually whittled down to three.

“The National Sports Council under the Ministry of Youth and Sports is delighted to announce the appointment of a Senior National Football Team Coach.”

In this regard, the general public is hereby informed that Johnathan McKinstry has been appointed on two years contract by the Ministry of Youth and Sports,” GFF said.

However, Gambia is the fourth African national side.

He had been in charge of Sierra Leone as head coach in 2013, Rwanda between 2015 and 2016 and Uganda (2019-2021).

His last coaching post was from 2022-2024 with Kenyan club side Gor Mahia.

Saintfiet announced in January that he was stepping down after five-and-a-half years at the helm – his contract ran till 2026 – in which he guided the “Scorpions” to the quarterfinals of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in what was their maiden appearance.