Aliou Cisse has swiftly secured a major new role in African football, just days after his sudden and unexpected departure from the Libyan national team.
The Senegalese coach’s exit from Libya on May 26, 2024, came as a shock, with the Libyan Football Federation citing “emerging differences in vision” as the reason. He had been in charge for only two official matches, a 4-0 win over Mauritius and a 1-0 loss to Egypt in 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
However, Cisse did not remain without a job for long. The Gambia Football Federation has now confirmed his appointment as the new head coach of the Scorpions. He takes over from Johnathan McKinstry and has signed a two-year contract.
“We are delighted to welcome Aliou Cisse to The Gambia,” said Lamin Kaba Bajo, President of the GFF. “His experience, particularly his historic achievement of winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, aligns perfectly with our ambitions. We believe he is the right man to lead our talented team to new heights.”
Cisse’s immediate task will be to revive The Gambia’s faltering 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. The team currently sits at the bottom of Group F with zero points from their opening two matches, having suffered heavy defeats against Côte d’Ivoire (3-0) and Burundi (3-1).
His first match in charge will be a crucial double-header against Seychelles and Gabon in March 2025. The Gambian federation has expressed full confidence that Cisse’s leadership and tactical acumen will be the catalyst for a dramatic turnaround.
For Aliou Cisse, this move represents a golden opportunity to immediately return to the dugout with a squad known for its potential, putting his brief Libyan chapter firmly behind him.
