By Emmanuel Ebimoh
Against all odds, even in the midst of daunting opposition, former Chelsea FC and Manchester City star, George Weah, in a clean-sweep election has become the 25th President of Liberia.
The 51-year-old football legend claimed his landmark victory in the polls as he won 13 out of 15 counties. His opponent, 73-year-old current vice president, Joseph Boakai only won 2 counties.
Liberia, Africa’s oldest modern republic, who gained independence in 1847, had been hit by series of civil war that destabilized the country. In 2006, after the end of two civil wars and a fight to regain her democracy, the country gained stability as Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the first African woman to be elected president.
George Weah has served in Liberia’s senate since 2015 after losing to Johnson Sirleaf in the 2005 presidential election. He won the FIFA World football player of the year in 1995.