The Gambia head coach Jonathan McKinstry says his technical staff had developed a detailed game plan for the Scorpions’ 4-2 comeback victory over Ghana about three weeks before the two teams met in Accra.
Speaking to Lamin Del Fadera on Afri Radio on Tuesday, McKinstry said the coaching staff had already identified the players and tactical approach they intended to use against the Black Stars well before the encounter.
The Scorpions entered the international window with a demanding schedule, facing Somalia before Ghana and having limited time between the two matches.
McKinstry said the technical team therefore incorporated elements of its Ghana strategy into earlier training sessions rather than waiting until after the Somalia match.
He said The Gambia had only one full training session between the two matches, with the remaining sessions largely devoted to player recovery.
“We had a proper game plan. We knew the skill set of every player, and for the Ghana game, we had a very clear picture of how to win the game,” McKinstry said.
The Scottish coach said the technical staff had also settled on its preferred starting XI for the Ghana match in advance, allowing players to understand their individual roles and responsibilities before travelling to Accra.
He stressed that preparing for Ghana ahead of the Somalia match did not mean The Gambia underestimated its first opponent.
Instead, he said the approach was intended to make effective use of the limited preparation time available during the international window.
The planning was put to the test when Ghana took a two-goal lead through a penalty and a second goal early in the match.
McKinstry said the Scorpions remained committed to their tactical approach instead of abandoning their structure under pressure.
The Gambia reduced the deficit through Muhammed Badamosi, who converted a penalty, before captain Omar Colley equalised with a powerful volley before half-time.
Ebrima Colley then scored twice in the second half as the Scorpions completed the comeback to secure a 4-2 victory.
McKinstry attributed the turnaround not only to individual performances but also to the players’ understanding and execution of the tactical plan.
He said the match demonstrated the importance of detailed preparation in international football, where limited training time can make tactical clarity and player understanding particularly important.
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