McKinstry who still manages Kenyan top tier side Gor Mahia, assumes his new role with the Gambian national team on June 1st, a statement by the GFF revealed.
The 38-year-old who coached the national football teams of Sierra Leone, Uganda and Rwanda will be on a two-year contract.
According to the GFF, McKinstry will lead the Scorpions’ campaign to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup.
The role of Scorpions coach became vacant following the resignation of Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet shortly after Gambia’s elimination from the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nation in Cote d’Ivoire on 23rd January, 2024.
The Gambia had lost all three group games to Senegal, Guinea and Cameroon.
Two years earlier Saintfiet 51, led the Scorpions to their maiden AFCON in Cameroon where they reached the quarterfinals of the competition at the first attempt.
Appointed by the GFF in 2018, Saintfiet also oversaw Gambia’s two defeats from Group F qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Burundi (3-2) and Ivory Coast (2-0).
The Scorpions are languishing in 5th place in a group also comprising Gabon, Kenya and Seychelles.
Their next World Cup qualifiers are against Seychelles and Gabon on June 8 and 11 respectively.
WN/as/APA