"I am used to winning in this stadium, and I wanted to keep winning in this stadium.”
That is how Gambia’s coach, Johnathan McKinstry, summed up his side’s impressive 3-1 win over Kenya in Group “F” match of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers yesterday at Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani.
This defeat ended Kenya’s hopes of making their World Cup debut when Canada, Mexico and the United States of America co-host the 23rd edition of the tournament from June 11 to July 19.
Nicknamed “The Scorpions”, Gambia dominated the first half, scoring through winger Yankuba Minteh (who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League), former Atalanta and Bologna forward Musa Barrow, and defender Sheriff Sinyan.
Gambian team posing at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi before playing against Harambee Stars in the World Cup qualifier on September 5, 2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil| Nation Media Group
Harambee Stars netted their consolation goal through substitute striker Ryan Ogam in the 82nd minute. Both teams drew 3-3 in the fixture’s first leg on March 20 at Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Apart from seeking to maintain his impressive record at Kasarani Stadium, McKinstry said that his knowledge of the Harambee Stars players and the fact that Gambia boasts several players from top European leagues worked in his team’s favour.
The Irishman coached 21-time Kenyan champions Gor Mahia from July 2022 to June 2024. He guided the team to two FKF-PL titles and the FKF Charity Shield.
“Because the team is more home based for Harambee Stars, I knew exactly what any of the domestic players were going to do when they came on,” he said on Friday, September 5.
The Gambia national football coach Jonathan McKinstry during his team's training at Moi International Sports Centre on September 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“I know how Ogam (Ryan) plays, I know how Sylvester Owino plays, I know how Abud (Omar) plays, so these are things that give us a one-off advantage. Even when Alpha Onyango came on, we knew he was going to head those diagonal passes. I know all these things because I helped them get to that level,” he added.
None of the 23 players in Gambia’s match-day squad plays in the country’s local league or team in Africa. Winger Minteh proved the hosts’ chief tormentor in the first half, where Kenya’s defence was in disarray. He found Sinyan with a corner-kick, the defender finding the back of the net with a superb header in the 12th minute. Minteh doubled his side’s advantage in the 26th minute thanks to a counterattack.
After receiving a pass from the left, the dangerous winger raced onto the right before beating goalkeeper Omondi with a clever, low shot into the far left corner of the goal.
Barrow extended the lead with a powerful shot in the 38th minute. Minteh always gave defender Omar a run for his money on the left wing.
“There is a quality difference between Kenya and Gambia at the moment. Sometimes people just look at the names and maybe Gambia is just a small country of one and a half million people but we have more than 200 footballers playing in Europe and that is what kenya don’t have. For us it was about matching Harambee Stars in their fight because this is a team that doesn’t give up even when they are 3-0 down. We had to match them in that and gradually be patient,” said the 40-year-old coach.
Harambee Stars team posing at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi before playing against Gambia on September 5, 2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil| Nation Media Group
Kenya’s coach, Benni McCarthy, said that his side could not match Gambia’s quality and that they paid for their mistakes.
‘It’s not the result we wanted, but I think we never dropped our heads after going 3–0 down in the first half. When you play and make the mistakes that we did, you get punished. Having a Gambian squad where every outfield player and substitute plays in Europe shows the level of quality they have. If we are to reach that level, we will have to learn,” said McCarthy.
