Senegal Women's Basketball Team's U.S. Training Canceled Amid Visa Challenges

The Senegalese women's basketball team's preparatory training in the U.S. has been canceled after several players were denied visas. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko describes this as an opportunity to train in a more supportive environment back in Dakar, while heightened travel restrictions on African nations loom amid ongoing diplomatic concerns.

Amid rising tensions regarding U.S. travel restrictions, the Senegalese women's basketball team has seen its planned training sessions in the United States scrapped. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko revealed the cancellation of a ten-day training camp in the U.S. after several players were denied visas. The prime minister expressed a commitment to preparing the team for the upcoming 2025 Women’s AfroBasket tournament by conducting training sessions domestically in Dakar, citing the need for a "sovereign and conducive setting."

This unexpected news follows reports of new travel restrictions that the U.S. government may impose on an additional 25 African countries, including Senegal. Recent measures had already included a travel ban affecting citizens from 12 nations, seven of which are in Africa, alongside partial restrictions for nationals from an additional three African countries.

The reasons behind the visa rejections remain unclear, as the U.S. Embassy has yet to comment publicly. In a statement released on social media, Sonko confirmed the decision and instructed the relevant ministry to cancel the planned U.S. training due to the denial of visas for both five basketball players and 13 accompanying officials who were set to join the main squad already training in the U.S.

Diplomatic cables hint that targeted countries, including Senegal, were given a 60-day notice to address concerns leading to increased travel restrictions, which range from issues like visa overstays to alleged anti-American sentiments. Following these developments, Senegal's foreign ministry has urged nationals to adhere strictly to their visa guidelines when in the U.S.

Additionally, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar has expressed concern that these expanded travel bans might hinder potential energy and rare earth mineral negotiations that West African nations seek to establish with the U.S. The Trump administration, facing criticism for travel regulation policies, has emphasized the need to address national security issues and curtail the growing problem of visa overstays from certain countries.