The Senegalese women's basketball team has encountered a significant hurdle in their preparation for the upcoming AfroBasket 2025 tournament. A planned training session in the United States was abruptly cancelled after several team members were denied US visas. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced the cancellation, stating that the team would instead train in Dakar, Senegal, in a more 'sovereign and conducive setting'.

This development comes amidst reports of the US planning to impose additional travel restrictions on 25 African countries, including Senegal. Earlier this month, the US had already announced a ban on citizens from 12 countries, seven of which are African, along with partial restrictions on nationals from seven other countries, three of which are also African.

The exact reasons for the visa denials remain unclear, as the US Embassy has not publicly commented on the matter. According to Prime Minister Sonko, five players and 13 team officials were set to travel to the US to join other team members and their coach for a ten-day preparatory training session. However, their visa applications were not approved.

Senegal boasts one of the strongest women's basketball teams in Africa, consistently performing well in AfroBasket tournaments and featuring players from top leagues in the US, Europe, and Egypt. The visa rejections have raised concerns, especially given the leaked diplomatic cable suggesting that targeted countries were given up to 60 days to address US concerns related to visa overstays, lack of cooperation with deportations, and other security issues.

In response to the reported travel restrictions, Senegal's foreign ministry has urged its nationals to comply with their permitted periods of stay in the US. While the government did not directly comment on Senegal's potential inclusion in the latest list of restricted countries, it emphasized that diplomatic and consular services are working closely with the US administration.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar has expressed concerns that the expanded travel bans could hinder potential energy and rare earth mineral deals between West African countries and the US. The Trump administration maintains that national security concerns and the high rate of visa overstays from certain countries must be addressed.

As the Senegalese team adjusts their training plans, the focus remains on their performance in the AfroBasket 2025 tournament, where they aim to continue their legacy as one of Africa's top basketball teams.