Kenyan football fans may have a big reason to celebrate in the new year, according to the repots shared on Wednesday evening that German giants FC Bayern Munich will face Dutch club AFC Ajax in Nairobi on January 5, 2027, in what would be the opening match of the new Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City.

According to Bayern Munich the match is a special way to kick off the new year, and the game would be part of the ceremonial opening of the Talanta national stadium. Ajax also made a similar announcement. 

The stadium at the centre of the story is real and is close to completion. The 60,000-seat facility, formerly known as Talanta Stadium, has been under construction for few years. Government officials have given regular updates over it's progress, and the most recent reports say the project was about 91 per cent which was supposed to be completed by the end of July however it's still yet. 

The stadium is also expected to be Kenya's main venue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.

Bayern and Ajax are among the most recognised clubs in European football, and having them play in Nairobi would put the country firmly on the global sporting map. 

Football lovers in Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa and across the country would likely be eager to see live top-level football at home, and the event could also bring a boost to hotels, restaurants and transport businesses in the capital.