Weah declared President-elect of Liberia
Former Ballon d’Or winner, George Weah, has been declared President-elect of Liberia, the tiny West African country.
The 51-year-old former World Footballer of the Year won thirteen out of fifteen counties.
His 73-year-old opponent and current vice president, Joseph Boakai got only two counties.
Weah becomes the 25th President of Liberia.
The soccer legend won the first round, but did not secure the required 50% of the vote for an outright victory.
Legal challenges delayed the vote to replace Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president.
“I am deeply grateful to my family, my friends, and my loyal supporters who contributed to our campaign during this extremely long election season,” Weah said on Twitter before the results were announced.
The contest between Mr Boakai and former top-flight footballer Mr Weah has been a stop-start exercise beset with legal wrangling.
Mr Boakai, 73, has been Liberia's vice-president for 12 years but does not seem to enjoy the support of his boss.
The former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain player defeated Ms Johnson Sirleaf in the first round in 2005 but lost to her in the subsequent run-off.
In the following election's run-off, in 2011, when he ran as a running mate to the opposition candidate, his coalition boycotted the vote, citing irregularities.
More than two million people were eligible to cast their ballots in the nation of 4.6 million people, founded by freed US slaves in the 19th Century.
The ex-Liberian international played for Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Chelsea and Manchester City and later returned to France with Marseille.
He is the only African to win the coveted Ballon d’Or.
Weah also won the UEFA Champions League Top Scorer award, Coupe de France, Ligue1, Coupe de la Ligue, Serie A title, English FA Cup among others.
Weah is set to replace Africa’s first female head of state, economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
His inauguration would be the first time power was transferred from one democratically elected government to another.
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