Jonathan McKinstry/ HANDOUTThe Gambia head coach, Jonathan McKinstry, has lauded Kenya’s top-class playing surfaces as the key reason for selecting the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, as their home ground for Friday’s crunch 2026 World Cup qualifier against Gabon.
The Scorpions will lock horns with the Panthers in a pivotal Group F clash at 4 pm. Cote d’Ivoire lead the standings on 20 points, with Gabon close behind on 19, while The Gambia sit third with 10 points and an outside chance of qualification.
Following the Gabon showdown, McKinstry’s men will jet off to Mauritius for their final group tie against Seychelles on Tuesday. However, the Northern Irish tactician revealed that the decision to host Gabon in Kenya rather than Mauritius was a deliberate one, guided by footballing logic and comfort rather than convenience.
“We didn’t want to play both games in Mauritius because over there, it’s an artificial pitch and we don’t want to play on an artificial pitch,” McKinstry explained during an open media session at the Kasarani Annexe on Wednesday. “We don’t mind playing on an artificial surface, but if we have the option of natural grass, we’ll always choose that, and that’s why we returned to Kenya.”
The former Gor Mahia coach also pointed out that logistics and travel efficiency tipped the scales in Nairobi’s favour. “The distance from Kenya to Mauritius is short, and there are direct routes between the two countries, so it makes sense for us to be based here,” he added.
McKinstry, who guided Gambia to back-to-back home wins over Burundi and Kenya in Nairobi last month, said the players had felt at home in Kenya. “We had a great reception last time when we hosted our match here,” he said. “Hosting Burundi here made sense since we were playing Kenya soon after; it helped us avoid unnecessary travel and maintain our rhythm.”
The Scorpions stunned Harambee Stars 3-1 on September 9 before dispatching Burundi 2-0 four days later. Looking ahead to Friday’s clash, McKinstry expects another fierce contest with a familiar rival. "Gabon are a tough opponent and we have quite an interesting history with them."
"We expect the same competitiveness on Friday. Gabon have everything to play for, they are in a very tight race with Cote d'Ivoire for the top position."
Despite the challenge, McKinstry believes his players are primed for the occasion. "We know we have the quality, and these are the types of games we relish. Our players are very motivated for the game, and it's all about being focused."
