Latest news with #Afrobasket2025
The Citizen
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
US denies members of Senegal women's basketball team visas
The team's 10-day training camp was cancelled after five players and seven team staff members were denied visas. Belgium's Antonia Delaere and Senegalese Fatou Diagne during a basketball match in Belgium at the FIBA Women's basketball qualification tournament for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Picture: Dirk Waem / Belga Mag / AFP The United States rejected multiple visas for members of the Senegal women's basketball team which was scheduled to train in America, according to Dakar officials, as Washington tightens border controls and reportedly mulls a travel ban extension. The tense border situation has caused consternation for some athletes and fans who plan to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in the United States. Training camp cancelled 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. In a heated post, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said on Facebook Thursday 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 minister of sports to cancel what was to have been a 10-day training camp in the United States. 12 visas rejected 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'. ALSO READ: Trump crackdown halts student visas as US targets foreign students A total of 12 visas — five for players and seven for the team's staff — were rejected, according to a federation statement late Thursday. 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 immediately respond to a request for comment. In addition to pulling the plug on the training, Prime Minister Sonko thanked US arch rival China for having 'awarded dozens of training scholarships for our athletes and their coaches'. The US travel ban already in place affects 12 countries. The order says it is not meant to apply to athletes competing in the World Cup or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. NOW READ: Banned again: Malema's presence not 'conducive to the public good', say UK authorities
News18
4 hours ago
- 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
12 hours ago
- 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
16 hours ago
- 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
17 hours ago
- 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'.
