Daily Mirror

Ex-Chelsea star has shot at becoming President

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FORMER Chelsea and Manchester City footballer George Weah is a step closer to becoming the president of Liberia.

Weah, 51, had 39% of the votes last night and was the clear leader in the first round of the election in the West African country.

The ex-striker, who played in the Premier League in 2000 and had been FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995, is expected to take part in a run-off against current Vice President Joseph Boakai, who had 29% of the votes.

Boakai is 280,000 votes ahead of the thirdplace­d candidate, the Elections Commission said.

With less than 5% of precincts yet to be counted, it appears mathematic­ally impossible that the order will change.

Weah, a father of three, entered politics in 2005, despite having no formal education. He has been a senator in Liberia since 2014.

He is campaignin­g to replace Nobel Peace Prize winner, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

 ??  ?? POLL LEAD George Weah
POLL LEAD George Weah

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