Northern Irishman McKinstry named Gambia's head football coach

Johnathan McKinstry has been named new head coach of the Gambia football team on a two-year contract with one of his goals to secure the team's place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 38-year-old Northern Irishman, who fills the vacuum left by the Belgian Tom Saintfiet, has extensive coaching experience in Africa.

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

The GFF wishes to congratulate and welcome our new gaffer Jonathan McKinstry on his appointment as Scorpions Coach. Jonny, 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. pic.twitter.com/j1RaJWO30X

— Official GFF 🇬🇲 (@TheGambiaFF) May 21, 2024

"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 the person of Mr. Johnathan McKinstry," read a statement from the Gambian National Sports Council.

"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."

Gambia is the fourth African national side he will have taken charge of – Sierra Leone the first in 2013, followed by Rwanda (2015-16) and Uganda (2019-2021).

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

Saintfiet announced in January 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.