Former African football star George Weah eyes presidency in Liberia

• Former football star George Weah eyes presidency in Liberia
• Weah was the first African player to win both FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or

Ex-football star George Weah is eyeing the presidency in Liberia and is said to be confident that he will win next month's election in the West African nation.

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Weah who was the first African player to win both FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or tried to run for presidency in 2005 and was defeated by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

"We are confident," Weah told AFP ahead of the October 10 election, when 20 candidates will vie to lead Liberia which is returning to normalcy after two devastating back-to-back civil wars.

"I've persuaded a lot of Liberians to believe that change is necessary for our country to move forward," the 50-year-old said.

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

George Weah who is popularly known as "Mister George", has been a senator for the party Coalition for Democratic Change since the end of 2014.

"This time around I think I've gained experience, I've kept my political party for 12 years now very strong and vibrant," Weah said.

"We are asking for free, fair and transparent elections," he said, condemning fraud in previous elections.