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Arsene Wenger gets hero's welcome in Liberia

Thursday August 23 2018
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Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. He is to receive Liberia’s highest honour for his role in the development of the football career of President George Weah. AFP PHOTO | GLYN KIRK

By BBC

Arsenal's former manager Arsène Wenger has arrived in Liberia ahead of an award ceremony on Friday when he is due to receive the country's highest honour.

Wenger was President George Weah's first European football coach and brought him to Monaco in 1988.

The president is the only African to have won the Fifa World Player of the Year award.

He retired from football in 2003 and took up politics.

Liberia's Arsenal fan club had organised a special welcome ceremony of their own for Wenger, Liberia Information Minister Eugene Nagbe told the BBC.

Wenger will be inducted into the country's Order of Distinction and be given the title of Knight Grand Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption - the highest rank possible.

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The news has generated controversy in Liberia, with some saying that the honour should not be given to an individual for what they have done for the president personally.

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