Govt hints at Raila Odinga International Stadium hosting both opening and final AFCON 2027 matches

The government has hinted that the newly built Raila Odinga International Stadium, formerly Talanta Stadium in Nairobi, could host both the opening and final matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo made the revelation on Monday, November 9, 2026, following an inspection visit to the 60,000-seater facility at Talanta Sports City to assess its readiness ahead of its official commissioning.

Omollo said the stadium is on course to be unveiled on January 5, 2027, when it will host a high-profile international friendly between German giants Bayern Munich and Dutch side Ajax.

“Ahead of the official commissioning of the Raila Odinga International Stadium on 5 January 2027, we undertook an assessment and inspection visit to evaluate the facility’s readiness for the historic occasion,” Omollo said.

“The commissioning will be marked by an international fixture between Bayern Munich and Ajax.”

The Interior PS then linked the new facility directly to Kenya’s ambitions for the continental tournament, suggesting that Nairobi could be given the most prestigious fixtures of AFCON 2027.

“The stadium is also expected to play a central role in AFCON 2027, hosting both the opening and final matches,” Omollo added.

The remarks would represent a major boost for Kenya’s preparations to host the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has already inspected the Raila Odinga International Stadium as part of its assessment of facilities across the three host countries. During its September inspection, CAF officials evaluated the Nairobi stadium alongside training facilities, hotels, airport infrastructure and other logistical installations required for the tournament.

The stadium is being positioned as the centrepiece of Kenya’s AFCON infrastructure programme. The Kenyan government confirmed last month that the venue will be officially inaugurated on January 5, with Bayern Munich and Ajax providing the headline fixture.

Kenya’s ambition to secure the opening and closing ceremonies is not new. In August 2026, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi and AFCON Local Organising Committee officials told Parliament that Kenya believed it had a strong chance of landing both assignments because of the new Talanta facility.

“Hon. Members, we stand a good chance to host both the opening and closing ceremonies, this is because of the new facility – the Talanta, Raila Odinga Stadium – that is at 95% completion,” the parliamentary record quoted LOC chairman Nicholas Musonye as saying.

However, CAF has yet to officially confirm the complete match allocation for AFCON 2027. The continental body has indicated that the tournament will be jointly staged by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with the three countries continuing preparations and infrastructure assessments. Both Uganda and Tanzania are in contention to stage either opening or closing ceremonies of the showpiece.

The 2027 tournament will be the first AFCON edition to be jointly hosted by three countries. The opening match is scheduled for June 19, 2027, while the final is set for July 17, 2027.

For Kenya, securing both fixtures would elevate the Raila Odinga International Stadium from simply being one of the tournament venues to becoming the principal stage for the continent’s biggest football competition.

The January 5, 2027 Bayern Munich-Ajax clash will therefore provide an early test of the stadium’s ability to handle a major international football event before the country welcomes Africa’s top national teams for AFCON later in the year.

The facility’s progress has also become a key indicator of Kenya’s wider readiness for the tournament. A recent government inspection placed construction at about 94 per cent, with the project expected to be ready for its January commissioning.

Should CAF eventually approve the proposal, Nairobi would host both the tournament’s opening and its climax, giving Kenya a prominent role in the historic three-country AFCON edition.

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