Latest news with #SenegaleseBasketballFederation
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
U.S. rejects visas for Senegal women's national basketball team members, staff
The Senegal women's national basketball team cancelled a 10-day training camp in the U.S. from June 22 to July 3 after the U.S. rejected visas for five players, six staff members and a ministerial delegation, the Senegalese Basketball Federation announced in a statement Friday. The rejected visas come weeks after the Trump administration announced a travel ban on 12 countries and visa restrictions on another seven. That original group did not include Senegal, but The Washington Post and other outlets reported last week that the administration was considering expanding the ban to 36 more countries, including Senegal. The expanded ban has not yet taken effect. Advertisement The travel ban includes exemptions for the World Cup, Olympics and any 'other major sporting event,' though it's unclear what constitutes a 'major' event. 'Informed of the refusal to issue Visas to multiple members of the national women's basketball team of Senegal, I gave instruction to the Ministry of Sports to cancel, purely and simply, the ten-day preparation program initially set to be in the United States of America,' Senegal Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said in a statement on Facebook on Friday. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The training camp, which will now take place in Senegal, is in preparation for the Women's AfroBasket, Africa's continental championship. Senegal leads the medal table and has won 11 titles, the most in Women's AfroBasket history. Sonko also praised China in his statement on Friday. With the Trump administration pulling foreign assistance and restricting travel from many African countries, some foreign policy experts predict that China will strengthen its relationship with the continent and fill that gap. 'I would like to express my profound gratitude to the People's Republic of China, who have agreed to several tens of grants for the preparation of our athletes along with their supervisors, with the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar 2026 in mind,' Sonko said. The Athletic's Max Mathews contributed reporting.
News18
20-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
US Rejects Visa Requests For Senegal Women's Basketball Team
Last Updated: Senegal is one of 36 nations that the United States is considering adding to a travel ban that would bar entry to its territory. The United States has denied multiple visas for members of the Senegal women's basketball team, which had planned to train in America, according to officials in Dakar. This decision comes as Washington tightens border controls and reportedly considers extending a travel ban. The heightened border restrictions have caused concern among athletes and fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in the United States. According to an internal administration memo, Senegal is one of 36 nations that the United States is considering adding to a travel ban that would bar entry to its territory. In a heated Facebook post on Thursday, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko stated he had been 'informed about the refusal to issue visas to several members of the Senegalese women's national basketball team." He instructed the minister of sports to cancel the 10-day training camp in the United States. Babacar Ndiaye, president of the Senegalese Basketball Federation, noted that the United States only renewed visas for those who held old visas and rejected new applications. A total of 12 visas—five for players and seven for the team's staff—were denied, according to a federation statement late Thursday. Les Lionnes were scheduled to train in the United States in preparation for the Afrobasket 2025 tournament in Ivory Coast, which starts in July. The US travel ban currently affects 12 countries. The order states it is not meant to apply to athletes competing in the World Cup or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With AFP Inputs First Published: June 20, 2025, 17:13 IST
Sinar Daily
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
US refuses visa for members of Senegal's women's basketball team
The visa refusals come amid US President Donald Trump's administration's immigration crackdown and tightened border controls. 20 Jun 2025 09:20am Senegal's women's basketball team, Les Lionnes, faced a setback after the US denied visas to several members, leading to the cancellation of their crucial pre-Afrobasket 2025 training camp in the United States. - AFP photo for illustration purpose only DAKAR - The United States rejected visa applications for multiple members of Senegal's women's basketball team which was scheduled to train in the country, the country' prime minister said Thursday, as he cancelled the group's participation in the practice. The visa refusals come amid US President Donald Trump's administration's immigration crackdown and tightened border controls. Senegal's women's basketball team, Les Lionnes, faced a setback after the US denied visas to several members, leading to the cancellation of their crucial pre-Afrobasket 2025 training camp in the United States. - AFP photo for illustration purpose only The United States is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Senegal is among 36 nations that the United States is considering adding to a travel ban barring entry to its territory, according to an internal administration memo. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko posted on Facebook that he had been "informed about the refusal to issue visas to several members of the Senegalese women's national basketball team". He said that he had instructed the country's minister of sports to cancel what was to have been a 10-day training camp in the United States. According to Babacar Ndiaye, president of the Senegalese Basketball Federation, the United States only renewed visas for "those who held old visas and rejected new requests". Les Lionnes had been slated to train in the United States ahead of the Afrobasket 2025 tournament in Ivory Coast, which begins in July. A spokesperson for the US State Department told AFP that it was not able to comment on individual cases, while the US Embassy in Senegal did not reply to a request for comment. In addition to pulling the plug on the training, Prime Minister Sonko thanked China for having "awarded dozens of training scholarships for our athletes and their coaches". - AFP More Like This
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
US Denies Visas to Senegal Women's Basketball Team
THE United States rejected visa applications for multiple members of Senegal's women's basketball team which was scheduled to train in the country, the country' prime minister said Thursday, as he cancelled the group's participation in the practice. The visa refusals come amid US President Donald Trump's administration's immigration crackdown and tightened border controls. The United States is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Senegal is among 36 nations that the United States is considering adding to a travel ban barring entry to its territory, according to an internal administration memo. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko posted on Facebook that he had been 'informed about the refusal to issue visas to several members of the Senegalese women's national basketball team'. He said that he had instructed the country's minister of sports to cancel what was to have been a 10-day training camp in the United States. According to Babacar Ndiaye, president of the Senegalese Basketball Federation, the United States only renewed visas for 'those who held old visas and rejected new requests'. Les Lionnes had been slated to train in the United States ahead of the Afrobasket 2025 tournament in Ivory Coast, which begins in July. A spokesperson for the US State Department told AFP that it was not able to comment on individual cases, while the US Embassy in Senegal did not reply to a request for comment. In addition to pulling the plug on the training, Prime Minister Sonko thanked China for having 'awarded dozens of training scholarships for our athletes and their coaches'.
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
US refuses visa for members of Senegal's women's basketball team: PM
DAKAR: The United States rejected visa applications for multiple members of Senegal's women's basketball team which was scheduled to train in the country, the country' prime minister said Thursday, as he cancelled the group's participation in the practice. The visa refusals come amid US President Donald Trump's administration's immigration crackdown and tightened border controls. The United States is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Senegal is among 36 nations that the United States is considering adding to a travel ban barring entry to its territory, according to an internal administration memo. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko posted on Facebook that he had been 'informed about the refusal to issue visas to several members of the Senegalese women's national basketball team'. He said that he had instructed the country's minister of sports to cancel what was to have been a 10-day training camp in the United States. According to Babacar Ndiaye, president of the Senegalese Basketball Federation, the United States only renewed visas for 'those who held old visas and rejected new requests'. Les Lionnes had been slated to train in the United States ahead of the Afrobasket 2025 tournament in Ivory Coast, which begins in July. A spokesperson for the US State Department told AFP that it was not able to comment on individual cases, while the US Embassy in Senegal did not reply to a request for comment. In addition to pulling the plug on the training, Prime Minister Sonko thanked China for having 'awarded dozens of training scholarships for our athletes and their coaches'.
