American basketball legend Kobe Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on Sunday morning, alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianni and seven others.

As the sports world came to grip with the horrible news, many African footballers paid their respects to the late, great star.

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Rip champion 🙏🙏

A post shared by Sadio Mane (@sadiomaneofficiel) on Jan 26, 2020 at 2:11pm PST

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😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭Adrénaline 💉💉💉💉💉💉

A post shared by Samuel Eto'o (@setoo9) on Jan 26, 2020 at 2:09pm PST

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What an Inspiration RIP legend 😓 @kobebryant

A post shared by Aubameyang (@aubameyang97) on Jan 26, 2020 at 5:02pm PST

Prayers up for Kobe’s family…devastating news 💔💔 💔🙏🏾🙏🏾 #KobeBryant

— ASISAT M.O.N (@AsisatOshoala) January 26, 2020

Big respect, big champion, big legend 🙏🏾#RIP Kobe Bryant and to the others victim 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/4tmIp54bzo

— Mario Lemina (@LeminaM_13) January 26, 2020

So sad 😞

RIP Kobe and Gianna Bryant 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/gmjJjsaoTD

— Yaya Touré (@YayaToure) 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

Legend 🙏🏾🏀 https://t.co/TAbwaR8M95

— Achraf Hakimi (@AchrafHakimi) January 26, 2020