George Weah officially launches his presidential campaign

Liberian soccer legend George Weah has officially declared his intention to contest the country’s presidential election.

He made the announcement to a cheering “all blue” crowd in the capital city, Monrovia.

This follows an earlier announcement he made in an exclusive interview with Africanews in Accra.

George Weah tells Africanews he will contest Liberia's upcoming electionhttps://t.co/XABrCgnujT

— Nii Akrofi (@niismart) April 21, 2016

Despite losing out on the 2005 presidential election, the iconic footballer is convinced he stands a better chance next year when president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s final term in office comes to an end.

“I am telling Liberians to be hopeful and to keep hope alive. This is our time and we will do all we can this time around to win the elections to lead our people,” he said.

He will be contesting the presidency on the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party he founded.

Weah, who currently serves as senator, had also failed to secure a vice-presidential position in 2011.

He says he sympathises with the suffering of the Liberian masses but he has been criticised by his opponents as being inexperienced for the top job.