English Premier League manager Arsene Wenger wrongly congratulated Liberian presidential hopeful George Weah for winning the country’s election, even though the final results have not yet been announced.
The Arsenal coach who once managed Weah in the 1990’s is quoted by BBC to say: “I would like to congratulate one of my former players, who became president of Liberia.”
Weah is among 20 candidates who took ran for the Liberian presidency in Tuesday’s election.
The 51-year-old former FIFA World Footballer of the Year is making a third attempt at his country’s top job, having failed twice before.
Going into this election, he was seen as a frontrunner to replace outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Many analysts in the country expect a runoff as required by the constitution if no candidate garners the more that 50 percent needed majority for an outright victory.
Wenger seemed to be excited by the prospect of Weah becoming president, noting his desire to lear and win.
“It is not often that you have a former player who becomes a president of a country,” the 67-year-old said.
“Well done George and I would say just for him to keep his enthusiasm and his desire to learn and to win,” he added.
According to Reuters, Weah was in the lead as of Friday’s provisional results, with 39.6 percent of the votes cast, against Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party who had 31.1 percent.
