Govt addresses claims of Bayern and Ajax fielding junior players in Nairobi showdown

Principal Secretary in the State Department for Sports Elijah Mwangi has confirmed that the opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium on January 5, 2027, will see senior Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam teams lock horns at the country’s premier facility.

Speaking at a funeral in Murang’a County on Saturday, October 31, 2026, the PS dismissed unverified reports that had earlier suggested that the two European giants would send either the legends or their academy sides to Nairobi for the historic function in January 2027.

“I want to put it on record that the teams (Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam) that will be coming to officially open the Raila Odinga International Stadium on January 5, 2027, as announced by the President will be the senior teams. I have seen people saying that we will be bringing the legends. The teams that we have approached are the main teams,” he said.

“Of course we have our own teams here, Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards…they will be playing in that field, but if we bring teams that have the world following of over 300 million people, that means will be displaying what we have as a country,” he added.

As Kenya is banking on the global popularity of Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam to attract international attention, boost tourism and create economic opportunities when the two European football giants headline the opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium on January 5, 2027, the bigger picture is the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament and the preparations headiding into the showpiece.

Amid the development of the event, PS Mwangi says the high-profile encounter will give Kenya an opportunity to market itself to millions of football supporters across the world as the country prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

The 60,000-seater facility, located at Talanta Sports City in Nairobi, will be officially inaugurated through the eagerly anticipated match after President William Ruto announced the fixture on October 28, 2026.

Mwangi believes the decision to bring two of Europe’s most decorated clubs to Nairobi will deliver benefits extending beyond the stadium’s opening, particularly through the international exposure generated by their enormous global fan bases.

“We have built the Talanta Sports City and we are almost done with it. That is why we have managed to secure a top-notch match between Bayern Munich and Ajax. We want everybody to know that Kenya has a world-class stadium. The two teams (Bayern and Ajax) have a huge global following and therefore them coming here it means we will be able to ride on that and brand the country positively through their platforms,” Mwangi told K24 Digital Sports.

“The economic impact of that period of the match and beyond will be huge and that is the legacy of our President, Dr William Ruto.”

The scale of Bayern’s digital reach provides a clear indication of why the government views the fixture as an opportunity to promote Kenya beyond the traditional football market.

According to figures released by the German club in September 2026, Bayern recorded more than 1.1 billion social media interactions and 15 billion video views during the 2025/26 season. Its online community also grew by approximately 10 per cent to more than 220 million followers across its platforms.

Instagram, TikTok and Facebook were among the biggest contributors to that growth, giving Kenya an opportunity to feature in content consumed by supporters across different continents.

For Mwangi, the exposure presents an opportunity to associate Kenya with the international reputation of the two clubs, potentially attracting more visitors, investors and sporting partnerships.

The economic benefits are also expected to extend to businesses within Nairobi and beyond, with hotels, restaurants, transport operators, tourism companies and other service providers likely to benefit from the arrival of international supporters, officials and media personnel.

Mwangi described the anticipated gains as part of the long-term legacy of the stadium project.

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