Bayern, Ajax to field senior teams in Nairobi stadium opening match

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 1 – Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has dismissed speculation that Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam will send former players or reserve squads for the exhibition match marking the opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium in Nairobi.

Mwangi said the two European football powerhouses were expected to field their senior teams when they travel to Kenya for the January 5, 2027 fixture, which will also bring together local rivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.

The highly anticipated encounter will headline the inauguration of the newly completed facility, previously known as Talanta Sports City, as Kenya steps up preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Addressing concerns surrounding the calibre of players expected to feature, Mwangi insisted that the government had been engaging the clubs’ first teams and not their alumni or reserve squads, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.

“I want to put it on record that the teams that will be coming will be the main teams. I have seen people saying that we will be bringing the legends. The teams that we have approached are the main teams,” Mwangi said.

The PS also sought to address concerns over the cost of hosting the international football spectacle, maintaining that the event would be financed through private sponsorship rather than allocations from the public purse.

“We are not using government money. We have gotten sponsors for the game,” he said.

Mwangi said hosting the two European clubs would give Kenya an opportunity to market its sporting facilities internationally, pointing to their enormous global fan bases as an avenue for promoting the country’s profile.

He estimated that Bayern Munich and Ajax collectively command a following of more than 300 million supporters worldwide, making the fixture an important platform for showcasing Kenya to an international audience.

“It is good to celebrate the good deeds. Those two teams have followers totalling over 300 million people. This means we will be displaying what we have as a country,” he said.

The event will also feature Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, ensuring that the country’s two most prominent football clubs are part of the stadium’s historic unveiling.

“We have Gor here, and AFC. They will also play,” Mwangi added.

Bayern Munich and Ajax are among Europe’s most successful football institutions, with a combined tally of 10 European Cup and UEFA Champions League titles, underscoring the stature of the clubs expected in Nairobi.

Their most recent meeting came in December 2018 in the UEFA Champions League group stage, when they played out an entertaining 3-3 draw. The contest produced a dramatic finish, with four goals scored during the final 10 minutes.

The January 2027 fixture comes as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania intensify preparations for AFCON 2027, which will be the first edition of the continental championship to be jointly staged by three countries.

The Raila Odinga International Stadium is expected to play a central role in Kenya’s hosting plans, with its completion representing a major addition to the country’s sporting infrastructure and ambitions to attract more international competitions.