Senegal’s senior women’s basketball team has cancelled a training camp in the United States after several squad members were denied visas, prompting strong remarks from the country’s Prime Minister.
The 10-day training camp was originally scheduled to take place at a US college from June 22 to July 3. However, it will now be held in Dakar, Senegal’s capital, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko confirmed in a Facebook post on Thursday.
“This camp will instead take place in a sovereign setting that is conducive to the performance of our athletes,” he wrote.
The Senegalese Basketball Federation confirmed in a separate statement that multiple individuals — including five players, two officials, medical staff, and a government delegate — were denied US visas. No official reason was provided for the refusals, and the US Embassy in Senegal has yet to comment publicly.
Senegal’s withdrawal from the US camp comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over American visa policies, especially after President Donald Trump announced a new travel ban affecting 12 countries earlier this month.
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While Senegal is not currently on the list, reports suggest it could be among 36 additional countries under consideration for future restrictions, with 25 of those from Africa.
Though athletes and sporting personnel are said to be eligible for exemptions under the executive order for major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games, it is unclear whether those clauses apply to smaller tournaments such as the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.
Senegal, a powerhouse in African women’s basketball with a record 11 continental titles, had planned the US camp as part of their preparations for the 2025 AfroBasket tournament scheduled for July 26 to August 3 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
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Despite their illustrious history, the Lionesses have not lifted the title since 2015, finishing as runners-up three times since. The federation had hoped the overseas camp would provide valuable preparation to reclaim the crown.
Instead, the team will now regroup in Dakar with less than a month until tip-off.
Prime Minister Sonko used the incident to reiterate Senegal’s shift in diplomatic priorities: “We clearly and firmly reaffirm our new cooperation doctrine: free, balanced cooperation based on mutual respect and shared benefit.”
