Johnathan McKinstry on Why Gambia Chose to Host Gabon, Seychelles in Kenya

Gambia head coach Johnathan McKinstry has revealed the strategic thinking behind his decision to host World Cup qualifying home fixtures against Gabon and Seychelles in Kenya, citing logistical, infrastructure, and playing-field considerations.

Gambia currently sit in CAF Group F, competing with the likes of Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, Burundi, and Seychelles for qualification. Gabon are currently third in the group and realistically out of contention for top spot.

Speaking during a media session in Nairobi, McKinstry explained that staging home matches away from Gambia has become a necessary strategy under the current regional logistics and football infrastructure constraints.

“Hosting Burundi (last match) here made sense because we were playing Kenya in the first leg; staying here avoids extra travel,” he told the media before the match on Friday.

For the upcoming fixtures, McKinstry reiterated that Kenya offers more than convenience.

“The second game is in Mauritius against Seychelles, so operating out of Kenya lets us copy our logistics — hotels, training facilities, buses — seamlessly. Also, Kenya to Mauritius has direct routes.”

He added that pitch surfaces played a significant role in the decision:

“We didn’t want to play both matches on artificial turf in Mauritius. We prefer grass fields whenever possible.”

The idea is to replicate the environment the players are comfortable with while simplifying operational complexities. Kenya’s robust stadium infrastructure and federation support added further weight to choosing Nairobi as their home base.

In September, Gabon hosted Burundi at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium and later secured a win against Kenya at Kasarani Stadium — evidence that Kenya’s facilities have become trusted neutral venues in African qualifying setups.

The decision by Gambia under McKinstry highlights a growing trend: more African teams are opting to host “home” matches abroad due to stadium compliance issues, security, travel connectivity, and pitch quality.

By selecting Kenya, Gambia gains a central, logistically sound hub, reduces travel fatigue, and ensures playing conditions more favorable to their squad.

 With Gabon unlikely to challenge for the top spot, and Seychelles being lower-ranked competition, McKinstry’s move may also help manage expectations and maintain competitive balance.

As Group F races onward, Gambia’s willingness to adapt may pay dividends in endurance, consistency, and match readiness in their push for qualification or a playoff berth.