Coming soon: European giants Bayern, Ajax to lock horns at Talanta International Stadium

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 28 – Kenyan football fans are set for a once-in-a-lifetime treat after President William Ruto announced that German giants Bayern Munich will face their Dutch counterparts Ajax Amsterdam in a friendly at the Talanta Sports Stadium on January 5, 2027.

Ruto said the blockbuster tie will be part of activities to open the 60,000-seater pitch, which is currently undergoing finishing touches ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

“On 5 January 2027, we will inaugurate this stadium with a historic match between two giants of European football: Germany’s FC Bayern Munich and the Netherlands’ AFC Ajax. Between them, these clubs have been crowned champions of Europe ten times,” President Ruto announced.

“There is a quiet poetry in this fixture. Raila Odinga studied in Germany, and now one of Germany’s greatest football clubs will come to play at the stadium that bears his name. Ajax, too, brings its own legacy of poetry and purpose. For generations, the club has built its greatness by nurturing young talent through an academy whose very name embodies the future,” the Head of State added.

“Talanta means talent. On 5 January 2027, talent and the future will meet in Nairobi. This historic match will be delivered through corporate partnerships and a self-sustaining commercial model, demonstrating that world-class sport can attract private investment, generate its own revenue, and create lasting opportunities for our people,” Ruto stated.

Ajax has confirmed the fixture on its official X account with ticketing still in the infancy stages.

Reports intimate that Bayern representatives were in the country early this month for discussions with relevant officials, to tie up on the fine print of the fixture.

The two boast a trophy-laden history on the local and regional front, both dominating their respective national leagues.

Bayern have amassed 33 titles (Bundesliga) compared to Ajax’s 36 in the Eredivisie.

The Germans have also lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy six times (1974-76, 2001, 2013 and 2020) whereas Ajax have four to their name (1971-73, 1995).

Their respective playing squads also read like the who-is-who in world football, including the newly-crowned Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane, who scored 61 goals for Bayern in all competitions, last season.

A match of Bayern-Ajax magnitude will not only cement the stature of Talanta as a historic monument but will go a long way in amplifying Kenya’s reputation as a sports tourism destination.

From a fans’ perspective, it will not only be a chance to behold Kane and Co in the flesh but also work up an appetite for the Afcon, which Kenya is to co-host with neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.

The stadium is also set to host the first leg of the Division 2 of the World Rugby Series, later in January.