Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has dismissed claims that veteran or reserve sides of Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam will feature in the exhibition match to officially open the Raila Odinga International Stadium in Nairobi.

Mwangi confirmed that the European football giants will bring their senior teams for the January 5, 2027, fixture, which will also feature local football heavyweights Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.

The match, which is expected to attract global attention, will mark the official opening of the newly completed stadium, formerly known as Talanta Sports City, as Kenya prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Speaking on the preparations, the Principal Secretary said the government had engaged the main teams and not their legends or reserve sides, dismissing 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 further clarified that the exhibition match would not be funded using public resources, saying organisers had secured sponsorship to finance the event.

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

Mwangi said the match presented an opportunity for Kenya to showcase its sporting infrastructure and potential to a global audience, noting that the two European clubs command 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 also take part in the celebrations, highlighting the importance of involving local clubs in the historic occasion.

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

Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam, two of Europe's most decorated football clubs, have a combined 10 European Cup and UEFA Champions League titles.

The two sides last met in December 2018 during the Champions League group stage, producing a thrilling 3-3 draw in which four goals were scored in the final 10 minutes.

The January fixture is expected to provide a major boost to Kenya's preparations for AFCON 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, marking the first time the continental tournament will be staged across three countries.

The opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium is also expected to strengthen Kenya's capacity to host major international sporting events while showcasing its growing investment in sports infrastructure.