The United States has refused visa applications for several members of Senegal’s women’s national basketball team, forcing the cancellation of their planned training camp in the US ahead of the Afrobasket 2025 tournament in Ivory Coast.
Known as Les Lionnes, the team was scheduled for a 10-day training camp to prepare for the continental competition. However, the US government’s denial of visas to key players disrupted these plans.
On June 19, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko publicly condemned the visa refusals and instructed the country’s minister of sports to cancel the camp entirely. He revealed that multiple visa applications had been rejected and criticized the decision as unfair.
The visa denials come amid the ongoing US immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has tightened border controls and is reportedly considering a travel ban affecting 36 countries, including Senegal.
Babacar Ndiaye, president of the Senegalese Basketball Federation, confirmed that only players renewing previously held visas were approved, while all new applications were denied.
In response to the setback, Prime Minister Sonko expressed gratitude to China for providing training scholarships to Senegalese athletes and coaches, highlighting international support amid the diplomatic tension.
The cancellation has raised concerns in both diplomatic and sporting circles, especially as the US prepares to co-host major global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
