In a significant setback for Senegal's women's basketball team, the planned training session in the United States has been cancelled due to visa denial for several athletes. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced the decision, emphasizing the importance of training within Senegal's capital, Dakar. This incident comes amidst a backdrop of expanding US travel restrictions affecting numerous African nations, including Senegal, with the US Embassy yet to provide clarity on the specific reasons behind the visa rejections. This development is raising concerns about potential effects on international sports engagements as Senegal gears up for the upcoming Women's AfroBasket tournament.
US Travel Restrictions Force Senegalese Women's Basketball Team to Cancel US Training
US Travel Restrictions Force Senegalese Women's Basketball Team to Cancel US Training
Senegal's preparations for AfroBasket are hindered as US visa issues prevent key basketball training sessions.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has confirmed the cancellation of a pre-season basketball training camp in the United States due to the denial of visas for multiple members of the national women's basketball team. Initially planned as a ten-day session in the US to prepare for the 2025 Women's AfroBasket tournament, the training will now take place in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, as the prime minister seeks a "sovereign and conducive setting" for the squad.
The US has recently introduced tightened travel restrictions targeting 25 more African countries, with Senegal included in the potential list. Earlier this month, a travel ban was enforced against citizens from 12 countries, in which seven were African, alongside partial visa limitations on additional countries.
While the reasons behind the rejection of the Senegalese athletes' visa applications remain undetermined, it is reported that this incident aligns with diplomatic cables that suggested affected nations were granted a period to address US concerns related to visa overstays and other security issues. Senegal's foreign ministry has since advised its citizens to adhere strictly to their allowed duration of stay in the US, as they navigate through the potential diplomatic ramifications of these restrictions on international relations and sporting engagements.
In broader discussions, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar has noted that these travel bans may hinder critical economic agreements in energy and rare earth minerals between the US and West African nations. The Trump administration maintains that such actions are driven by national security interests and the need to mitigate high instances of overstays from certain countries.
The US has recently introduced tightened travel restrictions targeting 25 more African countries, with Senegal included in the potential list. Earlier this month, a travel ban was enforced against citizens from 12 countries, in which seven were African, alongside partial visa limitations on additional countries.
While the reasons behind the rejection of the Senegalese athletes' visa applications remain undetermined, it is reported that this incident aligns with diplomatic cables that suggested affected nations were granted a period to address US concerns related to visa overstays and other security issues. Senegal's foreign ministry has since advised its citizens to adhere strictly to their allowed duration of stay in the US, as they navigate through the potential diplomatic ramifications of these restrictions on international relations and sporting engagements.
In broader discussions, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar has noted that these travel bans may hinder critical economic agreements in energy and rare earth minerals between the US and West African nations. The Trump administration maintains that such actions are driven by national security interests and the need to mitigate high instances of overstays from certain countries.
