Benni McCarthy’s ex-club Ajax and Bayern set for historic clash in Kenya

Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy will watch his former club Ajax Amsterdam on African soil after the Kenyan government announced a historic match against Bayern Munich.

Kenya’s President William Ruto announced on Wednesday that the European heavyweights will face off in Nairobi on January 5, 2027 during the official opening of the newly-built Talanta Stadium.

The ultra-modern 60,000-seater stadium will be Kenya’s main venue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations which the East African country will co-host alongside neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.

Ajax and Bayern have therefore agreed to face off at the stadium as Kenya prepares for AFCON 2027.

Ajax and Bayern confirm Kenya friendly

“We’re proud to announce that we will face FC Bayern in the opening match of the new Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City in Nairobi, Kenya,” Ajax announced through a social media post.

Meanwhile, Bayern also confirmed their attendance through a club statement on their website.

“A special match to kick off the new year: On 5 January 2027, FC Bayern will travel to Nairobi to face Dutch record champions Ajax as part of the grand opening of the new national stadium, the ‘Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City’,” Bayern stated.

“An international football festival that will celebrate the passion for the game across the African continent. The aim of the event is to build up anticipation for the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in the summer of 2027.”

Nostalgic match for Benni McCarthy

The match will be nostalgic for McCarthy, who is coach of the Kenya national team, and honed his football skills at Ajax.

McCarthy joined Ajax as a teenager in 1997, having left Ajax Cape Town, and spent two years at the Dutch club, winning the Eredivisie title and two KNVB Cups.

South Africa’s all-time top scorer will hope that the match, a first between the two sides on African soil, will inspire his players who will be preparing for AFCON 2027 with the pressure of impressing on home soil.