Senegal women's basketball team cancels US training camp after some players have visas denied
The Senegal women's basketball team has had to cancel a training camp it had scheduled in the United States after some members of its squad had their visas denied, the country's prime minister said on Thursday.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko wrote on Facebook that the 10-day training camp – which was due to be held at a college in the US between June 22 to July 3 – will instead take place in Senegal's capital, Dakar, 'a sovereign setting that is conducive to the performance of our athletes' after 'several' players had their visas denied.
'We clearly and firmly reaffirm our new cooperation doctrine: free, balanced cooperation based on mutual respect and shared benefit,' Sonko wrote in his post.
In a statement posted on Instagram from the Senegalese basketball federation, the governing body said that two representatives of the federation, a doctor, a physiotherapist, five players, a steward, the general manager and the ministerial delegate were refused visas by the ambassador of the United States to Senegal.
No reason was given as to why the visas were denied.
A State Department spokesperson told CNN Sports that due to the confidential nature of US visas, it couldn't comment on individual cases.
CNN Sports has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced a travel ban for 12 countries, which restricts entry of nationals from Afghanistan; Myanmar, also known as Burma; Chad; Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Haiti; Iran; Libya; Somalia; Sudan; and Yemen.
People from seven countries have a partial restriction: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
In the president's initial proclamation, there are exceptions for athletes, coaches, important staffers and immediate family for athletes traveling to the US for the 2026 World Cup, 2028 Olympics Games and 'other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.'
The news comes amid reports that Trump is weighing up adding a further 36 countries to the banned list, 25 of which are set to come from Africa, including Senegal.
The Senegalese team is the dominant force in African women's basketball, having won 11 FIBA Women's AfroBasket titles, the most of any country.
However, the Lionesses have failed to reach those heights in recent years having last been victorious in 2015, finishing second three times since then.
The camp in the US was in preparation for next installment of the biennial tournament which will be played between July 26 and August 3 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
26 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson apologizes for red card in Club World Cup loss to Flamengo
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nicolas Jackson apologized to Chelsea fans after he was sent off with a red card during the team's 3-1 loss to Flamengo in the Club World Cup on Friday. Trailing the Brazilians 2-1, the striker was sent off in the 68th minute with a straight red just four minutes after replacing Liam Delap for a studs-up tackle on Flamengo defender Ayrton Lucas. 'I want to say sorry. To the club, the staff, my teammates, and all the fans watching, I let you down. Another red card ... and honestly, I'm so angry at myself,' he wrote on Instagram. 'I work hard every day to help the team not to put us in this situation.' The red means that the Senegalese international won't be available to play on Tuesday when Chelsea faces Esperance with a spot in the round of 16 on the line. Jackson was also shown a red card last month in Chelsea's 2-0 loss to Newcastle. 'It happened against Newcastle and it happened today. Probably today I am not 100 percent sure it's a red card compared to the Newcastle one,' Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said. 'So it's a little bit of a bad moment for Nico in this kind of things.' FIFA could give Jackson a longer suspension if it chooses to review the tackle. 'I'll reflect, I'll grow and I'll come back stronger for the badge and for everyone who believes in me,' Jackson concluded his post. 'Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.' ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
BYU Reacts to Big AJ Dybantsa Announcement on Friday
BYU Reacts to Big AJ Dybantsa Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Similar to the hype that surrounded Duke Blue Devils star and soon-to-be No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg coming out of high school as the top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2024, AJ Dybantsa is generating similar buzz as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2025. Advertisement Dybantsa, a native of Brockton, Massachusetts, made headlines with his bold decision to commit to BYU and head coach Kevin Young—who brings NBA-level experience—over powerhouse programs like Alabama, North Carolina, and Kansas. Currently projected as the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Dybantsa received more big news on Friday. He was officially named to the United States U19 Men's National Team, which will compete for its ninth gold medal at the FIBA World Cup from June 28 to July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland. BYU celebrated the news by posting a graphic of Dybantsa with the caption, 'USA U19 NATIONAL TEAM.' BYU fans reacted to the news: Advertisement "Was there ever any doubt? They should change the name of the team to the U19 AJs," a fan said. "LET'S GO!!" Another fan posted. Someone else added, "Captain America kinda a hard nickname [not gonna lie]." One more fan commented, "Easy gold." BYU Cougars signee AJ Dybantsa (3).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Dybantsa will be joined by several other top prospects in the country, including Mikel Brown Jr., Caleb Holt, Jasper Johnson, Morez Johnson Jr., and Brandon McCoy Jr., among others, as the final roster was rounded out this week. The team will be led by Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd, with Texas Tech's Grant McCasland and Micah Shrewsberry serving as assistant coaches. Advertisement Team USA will open its FIBA U19 World Cup campaign on June 28, facing the Australian U19 National Team at 11:15 a.m. ET. Related: Jon Scheyer Breaks Silence on Cooper Flagg Likely Going No. 1 to Mavericks in NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Trump and Rubio secure Rwanda-Congo peace treaty amid Pakistan's Nobel Prize nomination
President Donald Trump announced on Friday he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had secured a "wonderful" treaty between Rwanda and Congo, as Pakistan formally nominated him for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. "I am very happy to report that I have arranged, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a wonderful Treaty between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of Rwanda, in their War, which was known for violent bloodshed and death, more so even than most other Wars, and has gone on for decades," Trump wrote in a Truth Social announcement. The president noted representatives from Rwanda and the Congo will be in Washington on Monday to sign documents. He went on to discuss his chances at winning a Nobel Peace Prize, claiming he wouldn't get one, "no matter what I do." "This is a Great Day for Africa and, quite frankly, a Great Day for the World," Trump wrote in the post. "I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for this, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the War between India and Pakistan, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the War between Serbia and Kosovo, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for keeping Peace between Egypt and Ethiopia (A massive Ethiopian built dam, stupidly financed by the United States of America, substantially reduces the water flowing into The Nile River), and I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for doing the Abraham Accords in the Middle East which, if all goes well, will be loaded to the brim with additional Countries signing on, and will unify the Middle East for the first time in "The Ages!" "No, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do, including Russia/Ukraine, and Israel/Iran, whatever those outcomes may be, but the people know, and that's all that matters to me!" On Wednesday, India refuted claims by Trump that he had stopped the war between Pakistan and India. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri wrote in a news release that "talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan," according to a report from Reuters. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India "has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do," Misri noted in the statement. The mention of a Nobel Peace Prize came nearly two hours after the Government of Pakistan published a lengthy post on X, formally recommending Trump for the honor. "The Government of Pakistan has decided to formally recommend President Donald J. Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis," the post read. "The international community bore witness to unprovoked and unlawful Indian aggression, which constituted a grave violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives, including women, children, and the elderly." Pakistani leaders said at a moment of heightened regional turbulence, Trump demonstrated "great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship" through "robust diplomatic engagement" with both Islamabad and New Delhi, securing a ceasefire. "This intervention stands as a testament to his role as a genuine peacemaker and his commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue," the post continued. "The Government of Pakistan also acknowledges and greatly admires President Trump's sincere offers to help resolve the longstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan—an issue that lies at the heart of regional instability. "President Trump's leadership during the 2025 Pakistan India crisis manifestly showcases the continuation of his legacy of pragmatic diplomacy and effective peace-building. Pakistan remains hopeful that his earnest efforts will continue to contribute towards regional and global stability, particularly in the context of ongoing crises in the Middle East, including the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza and the deteriorating escalation involving Iran." According to The Nobel Prize's website, to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, a person must be a "qualified nominator," which includes national governments, heads of state, previous award winners, and members of specific international organizations. The nomination process is confidential, and entries are due by Jan. 31, hence the 2026 nomination.
