Ex-Gor Mahia Coach Johnathan McKinstry on How He Masterminded Gambia's Win Over Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars at Kasarani

Gambia head coach Johnathan McKinstry has lifted the lid on how he masterminded the Scorpions’ 3-1 victory over Harambee Stars at a packed Kasarani Stadium on Friday evening. 

The Northern Irishman, who previously managed Gor Mahia, returned to Nairobi with a tactical plan that ended Kenya’s slim hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kenya started the brighter of the two sides, creating danger through William Lenkupae and Rooney Onyango inside the opening ten minutes. 

But McKinstry’s side absorbed the early pressure before striking clinically. Sheriff Shinyan headed in a Yankuba Minteh corner to silence the home crowd, and moments later Minteh doubled the advantage on the counter after a Kenyan turnover. 

The Brighton winger then turned provider for Musa Barrow, who punished a defensive slip to make it 3-0 before halftime.

Benni McCarthy responded with wholesale changes at the break, bringing on Alpha Onyango and Manzur Okwaro to inject energy, later introducing Ryan Ogam in search of inspiration. 

The substitutes did spark life, with Duke Abuya and Ogam both finding the net, only for their efforts to be ruled offside. 

Persistence paid off late when Ogam pulled one back in the 81st minute, but it proved only a consolation as Gambia left Nairobi with maximum points.

Speaking after the game, McKinstry was full of praise for Kenya’s work ethic but stressed the difference in squad depth.

 “Sometimes people look at the names and say Gambia is a small country of 1.5 million. But we have 200 players playing in Europe, and that’s what Kenya aspires to,” he explained. “I don’t think there is a team on the continent that works harder than Harambee Stars. 

“Even when they are 3-0 down, they keep running — that’s a huge credit to the coaches and players. But for us, we had to match that intensity and let our quality gradually take over.”

The coach, who guided Gor Mahia to 2 league titles during his brief stint in Kenya, said his squad is entering a new cycle.

 “Eighteen months ago at AFCON, only two or three of today’s starters were involved. The rest are young guys who are maturing as a team,” he said. “To come here, in front of a packed Kasarani, and win 3-1 — that’s massive for us.”

The victory puts Gambia ahead of Kenya in Group F on eight points with Kenya on six, while leaving McCarthy’s Harambee Stars with three dead-rubber fixtures to navigate and plenty of questions about their long-term rebuilding process.