The training camp for the US Senegalese women's basketball team has been scrapped and the West African prime minister says that some teams have cancelled their US visas after being denied.
Prime Minister Osmane Sonko said the team will train in Dakar, Senegal's capital, in a “environment of sovereignty and promotion.”
Reports say the US plans to impose new travel restrictions on 25 more African countries, including Senegal.
Earlier this month, the US announced a ban on citizens from 12 countries, including seven from Africa. There were also partial travel restrictions for citizens from seven more countries, three from Africa.
The Senegalese basketball team had planned to train in the US for 10 days to warm up for the 2025 Women's Afro Basket Tournament held in Ivory Coast next month.
However, visa applications for five players and seven officials have not been approved, according to a federal statement.
This prompted an angry response from the Prime Minister.
“On the informed that I had refused to issue visas to several members of Senegale's women's national basketball team, I instructed the Ministry of Sports to cancel the first planned 10-day preparatory training in the United States.”
The reason for the denied visa is not clear.
A US State Department spokesperson told the BBC that visa records are confidential under US law and therefore cannot comment on individual cases.
Senegal has one of the best women's basketball teams in Africa. He consistently reached the Final 4 in the Afro Basket Tournament and boasts top league players in the US, Europe and Egypt.
The refusal of a visa is frowned upon. Because, according to the Diplomatic Cable, which includes details of travel restrictions that have recently leaked, the target countries have been abandoned for up to 60 days to address concerns raised by the US.
These reportedly include those who are staying on visas, lack of cooperation with deportation, links to US terrorist attacks, what is called anti-Semitism or “anti-American” activities.
Following the reported new travel restrictions, Senegal's Foreign Ministry urged its public to comply with the permitted length of stay in the United States.
The government's statement did not directly comment on the possibility of inclusion in Senegal's latest list, but emphasized that diplomacy and consul services are working closely with the US administration.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar said the expanded travel ban could hinder the energy and rare earth mineral trade that West African countries can provide to the United States.
The Trump administration has argued for national security concerns and has argued that it must address a huge proportion of visas from some countries.
