The training of the Senegal women’s basketball team in the United States has been cancelled, and the Prime Minister of West Africa said he canceled the training because some teams were denied US visas.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said the group will now train in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, “in a sovereign and beneficial environment.”
It’s here Reports say the U.S. plans to impose new travel restrictions on 25 other African countriesincluding Senegal.
Earlier this month, the United States announced Citizens from 12 countries are prohibited, including seven from Africa. There are also partial travel restrictions on nationals from seven other countries, three of which are from Africa.
It is unclear why Senegalese athletes were denied visas, as the U.S. Embassy has not commented on the matter publicly.
“Aware of the refusal of issuing visas to several members of the Senegal Women’s Basketball Team, I instructed the Ministry of Sports to simply cancel the ten-day preparatory training originally planned in the United States of America,” Sonko said in a statement shared with social media on Thursday.
Five Senegalese basketball players and 13 team officials are traveling to meet with other members already in the United States and their coaches who will be on the 2025 Women’s Afrobasket Championship next month on the Ivory Coast.
But their visa application was not approved.
Visa denial is attracting attention, as target countries are given up to 60 days to address concerns raised by the U.S. based on a recently leaked diplomatic cable cable that contains details of extended travel restrictions.
These people reportedly include people with lasting visas, lack cooperation with deportation, links to U.S. terrorist attacks, anti-Semitism or anti-American activities.
Senegal’s foreign ministry urged its citizens to comply with its allowed period in the United States after reported new travel restrictions.
Although it did not directly comment that Senegal might be included in the latest list of restricted countries, the government statement highlighted that diplomatic and consular services are working closely with the U.S. government.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar said the expanded travel ban could hinder the trading of energy and rare earth minerals that West African countries can provide to the United States.
The Trump administration insists that national security issues and visa efficiency from some countries must be addressed.
Other reports from Natasha Booty
