Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has rejected claims that Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam will send veteran or reserve teams to the exhibition match marking the official opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium in Nairobi.

PS Mwangi said the European clubs would bring their senior squads for the January 5, 2027, fixture. Local football giants Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards will also feature.

The match will officially open the newly completed stadium, also known as Talanta Sports City, as Kenya prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Organizers expect the fixture to attract attention from around the world.

Addressing preparations, Mwangi said the government had approached the clubs’ main teams, not their legends or reserve sides. He dismissed speculation circulating on social media.

“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.

He also said sponsorship would cover the cost of the exhibition match, rather than public funds.

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

PS Mwangi said the fixture would give Kenya a chance to showcase its sporting infrastructure and potential to a global audience. He noted that the two European clubs have a combined following of more than 300 million supporters worldwide.

“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.

He added that Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards would join the celebrations, underscoring the role of local clubs in the occasion.

“We have Gor here and AFC. They will also play,” he said.

The January fixture is expected to boost Kenya’s preparations for AFCON 2027. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host the tournament, marking the first time three countries have staged the continental competition.

The stadium’s opening will also add to Kenya’s capacity to host major international sporting events and showcase its investment in sports infrastructure.