African sportsmen and women have shared their tributes after the death of US basketball player Kobe Bryant.
The retired LA Lakers player died on Sunday in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles, aged 41.
His daughter Gianna was among other passengers on the plane who died in the crash.
Democratic Republic of Congo's basketball player Bismack Biyombo tweeted:
Devastated to hear the news about @kobebryant. He was the best to ever do it. Praying for the Bryant family during this difficult time. Your legacy will live forever, you inspired and transformed a lot of us 😢😥😔 pic.twitter.com/8r0faP9hX2
— Bismack Biyombo (@bismackbiyombo) January 26, 2020
Retired Congolese basketballer Dikembe Mutombo tweeted:
Heartbroken. The NBA family and the basketball world have lost a big giant, a father, husband and a legend of the game, Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna died today. RIP my brother! @nba @nbacares pic.twitter.com/bWgQvdLG2Q
— Dikembe Mutombo (@officialmutombo) January 26, 2020
Ivory Coast's retired footballers Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba wrote:
So sad 😞
— Yaya Touré (@YayaToure) January 26, 2020
RIP Kobe and Gianna Bryant 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/gmjJjsaoTD
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) January 26, 2020
💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
I just can’t believe it
Tunisian female tennis player currently playing at the Australian Open tweeted:
Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah tweeted:RIP Kobe Bryant and Gigi pic.twitter.com/AbR4L8JLyK
— COED (@COED) January 26, 2020
My heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of Kobe and of those who died in the terrible accident.
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) January 26, 2020