Kenyan capital Nairobi is bracing for an explosive footballing spectacle early next year as German powerhouse FC Bayern Munich and Dutch titans AFC Ajax square off in a blockbuster exhibition clash to mark the official opening of the newly constructed Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium.
The high-profile fixture, scheduled for January 5, 2027, was officially confirmed by President William Ruto during a special national address on Wednesday, October 28.
Fully bankrolled by private sector sponsors, the game is expected to draw thousands of supporters, with global stars like 2026 Ballon d’Or recipient Harry Kane set to feature.
“Ladies and gentlemen, come January 2027, we will open this stadium with a historic match of international stadium FC Bayern and AFC Ajax,” stated President Ruto.
Both European giants have accepted the invitation, using the high-octane encounter as a key warm-up exercise ahead of their respective domestic mid-season returns.
Bayern will head to East Africa during the German Bundesliga’s traditional winter break, which commences following Matchday 14 on December 20, 2026, before league duties resume on January 8, 2027. Similarly, Ajax will utilize the friendly ahead of Eredivisie’s post-festive restart on January 9, 2027.
President Ruto emphasized that staging a high-profile showdown involving two European heavyweights deeply revered by local supporters fulfills a personal pledge to honor former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who pursued higher education in Germany at Leipzig University and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.
“This is part of my commitment to honour the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who studied in Germany. He loved football; he stood on the stands, and he enjoyed football with the people,” President Ruto added.
The state-of-the-art 60,000-capacity arena described as a flagship infrastructure project under the current administration has also raised concerns over the cost which exceeded Ksh48 billion.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
