Will Gambia qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations?

BANJUL, October 13, 2024 - The appointment of Jonathan McKinstry as Gambia’s head coach in May 2024 brought a fresh perspective to the Scorpions. As a coach with a track record across various African nations, McKinstry’s arrival was seen as a major boost to Gambia’s ambitions for AFCON 2025. His emphasis on tactical discipline and integrating new talents into the squad sparked optimism among fans. However, the results in the qualifiers so far indicate that while his leadership is promising, time and cohesion will be crucial for the squad to perform at their best under his system.

CHALLENGES WITH SQUAD OVERHAUL With McKinstry at the helm, Gambia has seen the arrival of new players into the national team. This shift is aimed at strengthening the squad and providing depth. However, the transition has proven challenging, as these fresh faces are trying to adjust to the pressures of international football. Building chemistry among the new recruits and the existing core of players remains a key concern, and it may take a few more matches for the team to gel effectively on the pitch. The lack of immediate results, including a 1-1 draw with Comoros and a 2-1 loss to Tunisia, suggests more work needs to be done.
In Friday’s match against Madagascar, Gambia suffered another 1-1 draw, leaving fans frustrated. The lack of goals and consistency in defense have become major barriers to the team’s qualification hopes.

“The boys are struggling to impress in the field of play in the post Tom Saintfeith era. The football they play is not attractive and there is no sign of hunger in the boys.
We have now conceded at least a goal in 12 straight matches since March 2023. This tells you a lot about the attitude and the laziness in the team. Coach Johnathan Mckinstry is tasked with the responsibility to qualify us to the next AFCON in Morocco but with the way things are unfolding, the chances are getting slimmer every game.
With due respect to Madagascar, looking into our past history in the AFCON, they should not be a problem to us especially considering the caliber of players at our disposal.
A disappointing draw it is and hoping we can turn things around starting Monday with the same opponent,” said sports journalist, Babucarr Sey.

STRUGGLES IN THE AFCON 2025 QUALIFIERS The Scorpions’ journey through the AFCON 2025 qualifiers has been tough, with no wins recorded so far. A tight 1-1 draw against Comoros showed glimpses of potential, but the subsequent 2-1 defeat to Tunisia highlighted areas that need urgent improvement. The inability to convert performances into victories is a major hurdle, especially with stronger teams on the horizon. If Gambia is to secure their place in the AFCON, the team must find a way to turn close matches into wins while addressing their defensive lapses and improving their attacking efficiency.

CAN GAMBIA STILL QUALIFY? Despite the current challenges, Gambia’s qualification campaign is far from over. With several matches still to be played, the Scorpions have the opportunity to regroup and find their form. Coach McKinstry’s tactical adjustments, combined with the development of the new players, will be key in turning the tide. The team needs to capitalize on upcoming fixtures and show resilience if they are to qualify for AFCON 2025. Gambia’s footballing future hangs in the balance, but with determination and better execution, the dream of reaching the tournament is still achievable. Coach McKinstry has encouraged the players to play with passion and to take control of their destiny. “Football is a cruel game and sometimes doesn’t give you what you want. We are going to take it by force,” McKinstry told GFF media.