African sportsmen and women pay tribute to Kobe Bryant

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

pic.twitter.com/CExOXok9Sb

— Dikembe Mutombo (@officialmutombo) January 26, 2020

Ivory Coast's retired footballers Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba wrote:

So sad ????

RIP Kobe and Gianna Bryant ???????? pic.twitter.com/gmjJjsaoTD

— Yaya Touré (@YayaToure) January 26, 2020

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I just can’t believe it

— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) January 26, 2020

Tunisian female tennis player currently playing at the Australian Open tweeted

I can’t believe this ???????? RIP ???????????? https://t.co/TxHbIGxeqG

— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) January 26, 2020

Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah tweeted:

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