Ban of entry for Senegal: Basketball Dream team loses a training camp!

background of the visa rejection

The US government has tightened entry conditions under the Trump administration. Previously, a travel ban for twelve countries and visa restrictions for seven other countries was announced. Senegal was initially not on this list; However, there are considerations to expand the ban on up to 36 other countries, including Senegal. These decisions could have a significant impact on international sport.

Even if the extended travel ban is not yet in force, the rules for the Senegalese national team are in the room. The visa applications for the members concerned are confidential in accordance with US law, which means that the US government cannot make statements on individual cases. Therefore, it remains unclear what specific reasons have led to the rejected applications.

preparation for the Africa Championship

The training camp in Dakar is now regarded as a preparatory step for the Women’s Afrobasket, the Africa's continental championship in basketball. Senegal leads the medal table and has won impressive 11 titles, most in the history of this competition. Sonko also praised the support from China, which provides grants for the preparation of the athletes and their supervisors, especially with regard to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.

The cancellation of the training camp represents a significant cut in the preparation for competition, which presents the team with challenges. It remains to be seen whether and how the preparations can still be adjusted.