NAIROBI, Kenya – Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has dismissed claims that Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam will send legends or reserve squads for the January 5, 2027, match opening the Raila Odinga International Stadium in Nairobi.
Mwangi said the Government had engaged the European clubs over the participation of their main teams, insisting that Kenyan football fans should expect a meeting involving the senior sides rather than former players.
“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 clarification comes amid speculation on social media about the calibre of players expected to feature in the high-profile exhibition match at Talanta Sports City.
What Bayern and Ajax have confirmed
Bayern announced that it would travel to Nairobi on January 5 to face Ajax as part of the inauguration of the new national stadium.
Ajax also confirmed the fixture, describing it as an important match for the club’s preparations for the second half of the season.
In its announcement, the Dutch club referred to the participation of head coach Míchel Sánchez’s side, while Bayern described the encounter as a special match to kick off the new year.
The announcements have strengthened expectations that the fixture will feature the clubs’ senior playing groups. However, neither club has published a definitive travelling squad or confirmed the individual players who will make the trip.
The match will be the first major international football event at the 60,000-capacity Raila Odinga International Stadium, which is among the facilities being prepared for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Government says taxpayers will not fund match
Mwangi also sought to address concerns over the financial arrangements for bringing the European clubs to Kenya, saying the event would be financed through sponsorship rather than public funds.
“We are not using government money. We have gotten sponsors for the game,” he said.
The PS said the fixture would provide Kenya with an opportunity to showcase its sporting infrastructure and attract international attention ahead of AFCON 2027.
He pointed to the clubs’ extensive global following, arguing that their presence would give the country an international platform to promote its sporting and tourism potential.
“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 added.
However, the Government has not publicly disclosed the sponsorship arrangements or the amount committed to staging the match.
Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards also expected
Mwangi said local football clubs Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards would also feature in the stadium-opening celebrations, highlighting the importance of involving Kenyan teams in the occasion.
“We have Gor here, and AFC. They will also play,” he said.
Further details on the match format and how the Kenyan clubs will participate are yet to be announced.
The involvement of the two domestic rivals would add a local dimension to an event expected to attract supporters from across the country and the region.
A major football event ahead of AFCON 2027
The January 5 fixture will form part of Kenya’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The tournament will mark the first time AFCON is staged across three countries and its return to East Africa for the first time since 1976.
Bayern and Ajax have a combined 10 European Cup and UEFA Champions League titles, with Bayern having won the competition six times and Ajax four times.
Their most recent competitive meeting was in December 2018, when they played out a 3-3 draw in the Champions League group stage.
The opening match at Talanta is therefore expected to attract considerable international attention as Kenya seeks to demonstrate its capacity to host major sporting events.
Ticket sales are scheduled to begin on November 5, 2026, through the official Talanta Sports City website.
