2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Gambia’s McKinstry Anticipates Kenya’s Attacking Style
The 2026 World Cup Qualifiers will see Gambia face Kenya on March 20, 2026. Coach Benni McCarthy’s arrival has transformed Kenya’s playstyle to a more attacking approach, away from their historically defensive tactics. McKinstry aims for Gambia to secure points in both matches against Kenya and Ivory Coast to enhance their standing in the group.
The upcoming Group F World Cup qualifying match between Kenya and Gambia is set for March 20, 2026, at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Ivory Coast. This match marks the fifth round of the qualifiers for the global tournament taking place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Both teams aim to secure important points as the qualification momentum increases.
Benni McCarthy, the newly appointed coach for Kenya, has implemented a change in strategy since taking charge. His contract extends until after the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. McKinstry, now leading the Gambia Scorpions, observes a significant shift in Kenya’s playing mentality compared to the previous coach, Engin Firat, who favored a more defensive approach. McCarthy’s offensive mindset promises a more dynamic game.
In an interview, McKinstry noted, “We have Kenya game coming up, and Kenya is an interesting one… they have drawn a lot of football matches.” This reflects a change in expectation due to the historical performance of the Kenyan team. McKinstry previously anticipated a defensive game plan from Kenya but has reassessed in light of McCarthy’s attacking philosophy.
McKinstry elaborated, stating that McCarthy’s teams historically prefer an aggressive, pressing strategy and have demonstrated a focus on attacking play. Although McCarthy has limited time with the players, McKinstry is optimistic about the potential for rapid implementation of this new approach in the upcoming match.
While McKinstry is familiar with many of the Kenyan players, he acknowledges that understanding individual players does not guarantee knowledge of their new game strategy under McCarthy. He expressed, “There is a little bit of the unknown going in the Kenyan game.” He emphasized the need for Gambia to perform their best, especially in light of recent mistakes.
Following the match against Kenya, Gambia will face Ivory Coast on March 24. McKinstry emphasized the importance of treating both matches with seriousness, as both opponents are ranked higher than Gambia. He noted, “Ivory Coast are ranked around 44 or 45 in the world, while Kenya are placed between 105 to 108,” making them formidable challenges.
Despite their position in the standings—fifth in the six-team group—Gambia seeks to enhance their performance significantly. McKinstry believes they have the capability to compete aggressively against historical strong teams, noting, “Just like we did in Tunisia… we feel that we have the opportunity to go head to head with these historically strong nations on the continent and cause them problems.” The current group standings show Ivory Coast leading with 10 points, while Gambia has only three from four matches.
In summary, the upcoming World Cup qualifier between Kenya and Gambia presents a pivotal opportunity for both teams, particularly with the recent coaching change in Kenya under Benni McCarthy. McKinstry’s observations highlight a shift toward a more attacking gameplay. Gambia emphasizes the importance of both matches against higher-ranked teams, aiming to improve their standings in the qualifying campaign while competing with determination and readiness.
Original Source: www.flashscore.com
