Johnathan McKinstry explains why The Gambia can go toe-to-toe with Harambee Stars as search for maximu points in crunch clash gathers pace.
Gambia head coach Johnathan McKinstry has promised to give Harambee Stars a run for their money in the World Cup qualifier match set for mMarch 20.
According to the former Gor Mahia coach, The Gambia are underdogs heading into the crunch clash, thanks to their low FIfa ranking. However, McKinstry, who also coached Uganda Cranes, said his charges can use past performances as motivation and claim maximum points in Ivory Coast.
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“We are going into two very different games, obviously bought teams are ranked above us, so we have to take them both seriously. Ivory Coast are ranked around 44 or 45 in the world, while Kenya are placed between 105 to 108, so both are ranked above us and we have to take both games very seriously,” McKinstry told Flashscore.
Tusker striker Ryan Ogam chose to honour Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars call-up but his club is not happy with him over a number of reasons.
After playing Kenya, Gambia will remain in Ivory Coast to face the African champions in a matchday six fixture at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Monday, March 24th.
“Just like we did in Tunisia in the last game, we feel that we have the opportunity to go head to head with these historically strong nations on the continent and cause them problems.”
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McKinstry urged a cautious approach against Harambee Stars, maintaining that despite their past struggles, the Benni McCarthy-coached Stars have the quality that can cause havoc and deliver the goods when it matters most.
“The idea that it is very easy to look at Ivory Coast in the second game and think that Kenya might be simpler, that is not necessarily true, both will be very big opponents for us but equally both represent very different challenges.”
The Scorpions are currently sitting fifth in the six-team group with three points from four matches. Ivory Coast are leading the pile on 10 points, Gabon are second on nine points, Burundi third on seven points, Kenya fourth on five points while Seychelles are rooted bottom with zero points.
Harambee Stars have stepped up their preparations for the must-win match. McCarthy , who was only appointed on March 2, has had less than a week training with the local based players.
