'We know the level of challenge ahead of us' – Gambia coach McKinstry relishes AFCON draw

Gambia head coach Johnathan McKinstry has admitted that his side face a monumental task after being drawn alongside Ghana and Ivory Coast in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers but insisted the Scorpions are ready for the challenge.

Speaking after the draw in Cairo, McKinstry acknowledged the quality of the two African giants in Group C, which also includes Somalia.

"We are very excited by the draw. Group C is a fantastic group, and, of course, we know the level of challenge ahead of us," McKinstry said. "Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana are two of Africa's elite teams, while Somalia will also be highly motivated and competitive throughout the qualifying series."

The coach drew confidence from Gambia's recent narrow loss to Ivory Coast in Abidjan, where the Elephants needed a Man of the Match performance from their goalkeeper to secure victory.

"But as we have shown before, when The Gambia goes up against the top teams on the continent, our players rise to the occasion. That performance showed the level we can reach when we are focused, organised, and brave."

Ghana enter the qualifiers, seeking to recover from their failure to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco. The four-time African champions will face significant pressure to return to the finals. Ivory Coast, meanwhile, are widely expected to be among the favourites to progress.

The 2027 AFCON finals will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, with qualifying matches scheduled to begin in September 2026. For McKinstry and his Gambian side, the road ahead is tough, but they are ready to rise to the occasion.