Football: President George Weah plays friendly for Liberia against Nigeria (aged 51!) as they retire No 14 shirt in his honour
George Weah dusted off his boots and made one final appearance for Liberia on Tuesday night, all of 15 years after retiring.
The Ballon d'Or winner, who is now president of the country, was given
the chance to wear his preferred No 14 shirt one last time in a friendly
match with Nigeria.
Although
sporting a little extra weight than in his playing days, the 51-year-old
still showed some fleet-footedness and managed 79 minutes before
leaving the field to a standing ovation.
A surprisingly strong Nigeria squad found themselves 2-0 up at half-time
with Henry Onyekuru and Simeon Nwankwo scoring the goals.
Liberia then pulled one back from
the penalty spot in the 89th minute, but the result seemed unimportant
as Weah wandered back onto the pitch after full-time to suck in the
adulation one last time.
Although a footballing legend in Liberia and, indeed, Africa, Weah is
now the leader of his country after winning 60 per cent of the popular
vote in December's election.
With the help of his political
power, his former manager Arsene Wenger was invited to the country and
inducted into Liberia's Order of Distinction as a Knight Grand Commander
of the Humane Order of African Redemption — the highest honour bestowed
by the country — for his services to African football.
Wenger, who left Arsenal last year, spotted Weah's talent while Monaco
manager all of 30 years ago and brought him the principality in 1998.
He would later move to PSG, where he would become the one and only African player to win the Ballon d'Or in 1995.
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