JUST IN: Ex-footballer George Weah becomes Liberia’s new president

A former FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, George Weah on Wednesday emerged winner of the elections in Liberia to become that country’s 25th president.

The retired Fifa World player defeated his 73-year-old opponent, Vice President Joseph Boakai in a landslide victory announced in Liberia on Wednesday morning.

Mr. Weah won 12 out of 15 counties.

The senator of Montserrado County, Weah, said on Twitter before the results were announced that, “I am deeply grateful to my family, my friends, and my loyal supporters who contributed to our campaign during this extremely long election season.”

As Liberia’s first female head of state, 79-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, steps down.

Mrs. Sirleaf, leaves the impoverished West African country still reeling from the effects of previous wars and the deadly Ebola outbreak.