Liberia polls: Wenger, Desailly flagged 'offside' over Weah congrats

At a time when the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia is yet to release preliminary results of the October 10 elections, sections of the football world have literally been caught “offside”.

Two giants in global football have “declared” former World Footballer of the Year, George Oppong Weah, winner and extended congratulations to him.

First is his former manager and current coach of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, who took pride in having his former player becoming president. Long before Wenger, Marcel Desailly, a former World Cup winner also congratulated Weah.

It is not often that you have a former player who becomes a president of a country and so well done George and I would say just for him to keep his enthusiasm and his desire to learn and win.

READ ALSO: Nigeria senator calls ‘fake’ victory for Weah

Wenger told journalists at a press conference: “I would like to congratulate one of my players, who became president of Liberia, George Weah.

“It is not often that you have a former player who becomes a president of a country and so well done George and I would say just for him to keep his enthusiasm and his desire to learn and win.”

AW: I’d like to congratulate my former player George Weah on becoming president of Liberia. It’s not often your ex-player becomes president! pic.twitter.com/qlpSUD9YBi

— The Arsenal (@DareToWenger) October 12, 2017

Desailly in his case shared a photo of himself and Weah on Twitter. He described the 51-year-old as “Le president.”

The latest on the polls as per the NEC is that preliminary results will be released later today. Projections, however, point to Weah heading into a run-off with vice president Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

Weah’s football exploits

He is currently a retired Liberian international footballer and the Senator representing the Montserrado County.

He had a successful career as a footballer which started from his country before moving to Europe where he played for Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Milan, Chelsea and Marseille among others before his retirement in 2003.

Weah has won several international and continental awards including the African Footballer of the Year Award on multiple times. He also played for the Liberian national team which he coached and funded on various occasions.