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2h ago

US Denies Visas, Senegal Women’s Basketball Team Cancels U.S. Camp

Senegal’s prime minister says the squad will now train in Dakar after Washington refused entry to a dozen team members.

Members of the Senegal women's basketball team were denied visas into the US.
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Senegal's Cierra Dillard, right, and Nigeria's Promise Amukamara chase a loose ball during an Olympic qualifier on Feb. 8, 2024, in Antwerp, Belgium. (Virginia Mayo/AP)
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Overview

  • A total of 12 visas—five for players and seven for staff—were denied new U.S. entry permits, with only renewals granted to returning members.
  • The U.S. State Department declined to discuss individual visa decisions, citing the confidential nature of the process.
  • Senegal’s team will now hold its 10-day training camp in Dakar as preparation continues for the Afrobasket 2025 tournament in Ivory Coast.
  • An internal U.S. memo lists Senegal among 36 countries under review for a possible travel ban that already covers 12 nations.
  • Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko expressed gratitude to China for providing training scholarships to Senegalese athletes after the U.S. cancellations.