Soccer legend George Weah wins Liberian presidential run-off: electoral body

The candidate of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) George Weah has taken the lead in Liberia's presidential run-off election, the country's electoral body said on Thursday.

Liberian presidential candidate for the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), George Weah (C) casts his ballot in presidential elections run-off in Monrovia, Liberia, 26 December 2017. Some 2.1 million registered Liberian voters are eligible to vote in the presidential run-off between George Weah, of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), and Joseph Nyuma Boakai of the governing Unity Party (UP). [Photo: IC/EPA/Ahmed Jallanzo]

With 98.1 percent of the vote counted, Weah came far ahead with 61.5 percent, while his rival, incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai is trailing behind with 38.5 percent, head of the National Election Commission Jerome Korkoya told reporters.

George Weah with the Trophy for Europe Footballers in 1995 [File photo: VCG/imago/Buzzi]

Weah, a former soccer star, had won 14 out of Liberia's 15 counties in Tuesday's run-off, Korkoya said.

The electoral commission said turnout in Tuesday's race stood at 56 percent and that final results of the election will be announced on Friday.