A World Cup pundit and footballer has revealed his mum died after being hit by a truck – the reason she went off the air during a game.
Nadia Nadim represents Denmark internationally and was on the ITV panel for the country’s game against Tunisia on Tuesday.
She was not seen on screen at the end of the world Cup game in Qatar, which ended 0-0.
Nadim, 34, has now announced the death of his mother.
“Tuesday morning my mother was killed by a truck,” she wrote on social media. “She was coming back from the gym.”
Nadim, who plays for US club Racing Louisville, said ‘words can’t describe’ how she feels, and added: ‘I lost the most important person in my life and it happened in such a sudden and unexpected way. She was only 57 years old.”
Paying tribute, Nadim described her mother as “a warrior who fought for every inch of her life.
“She gave me life not once but twice, and everything I/we are is because of her.
“I lost my home and I know nothing will be the same.
“Life is unfair and I don’t understand why it and why this way. I love you and I will see you again.”
Father executed by the Taliban
Nadim said her mother’s funeral would take place shortly and urged people to “please come and show her the love, respect and prayers she deserves”.
She did not say where her mother was killed.
Nadim was born in Afghanistan and as a child fled the country with her mother and sisters after her father was executed by the Taliban.
Read more:
The refugee-turned-sports-superstar and her fears for women under the Taliban
Speaking to Sky News about her experiences last year, she said: “My memories are split into two parts.
“Before the war, I have very good memories of the country, of our life, of the safe environment. I had my mother and my father. And then I have the second part, which is the war, and after the death of my father.
“These memories are not good memories, a lot of chaos, a lot of horror. In the end, things were made very difficult for us as a family to function and see a future or feel safe.”
The official Racing Louisville Twitter account was among those who responded to Nadim’s post, saying, “We are thinking of you and your family.”
ITV football presenter Seema Jaswal wrote: “I am heartbroken for you Nadia. I am sending you and your family all the strength and love in the world to get through this. I wish I could see you before you left for a hug.”
In addition to her football career, Nadim obtained her medical degree in January.
