A planned training camp for the Senegalese women’s basketball team in the United States has been cancelled after several players were denied visas. Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, announced that the team would now hold their preparations in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, stating that this would provide a “sovereign and conducive setting” for their training.
This incident comes as the United States is considering new travel restrictions affecting 25 African nations, including Senegal. Recently, a ban was placed on citizens from 12 countries, with additional partial restrictions imposed on others. The specific reasons behind the visa denials for the Senegalese athletes remain unclear, as individual visa cases are kept confidential by U.S. law.
Prime Minister Sonko responded to the visa rejections by instructing the Ministry of Sports to cancel the ten-day training session planned in the U.S. The Senegal team, which includes several players from prominent leagues in the US, Europe, and Egypt, was set to train for the upcoming 2025 Women’s AfroBasket tournament.
The denial of visas casts doubt over the broader implications of U.S. travel policies and has sparked concerns about potential impacts on diplomatic and commercial dealings, echoed by officials like Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, who highlighted the importance of these relationships.
Source: www.bbc.com
