"The United States is at worst and won t go! By the way, thank you for your support."

[Text/Observer Network Shao Yun]

According to AFP on June 19, Senegalese Prime Minister Ottoman Songko announced on the same day that due to the US's refusal to issue a visa, the Senegalese women's basketball team training camp originally scheduled to be held in the US will be held in Dakar, the capital of Seychelles. He also expressed his "deep gratitude" for the "training scholarship" provided by China.

"After learning that the visas of several members of the Senegalese national women's basketball team were denied, I have instructed the Minister of Sports to cancel the 10-day training camp originally scheduled to be held in the United States." Songke said on social media on the 19th, "This training camp will now be changed to Dakar, and will be held in a sovereign environment to create an environment conducive to competitive performance for our athletes."

Songke continued: "I would like to express my deep gratitude to the People's Republic of China and thank China for providing dozens of training scholarships for our athletes and coaches to prepare for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games." He said that Serbia here clearly and firmly reiterates its new cooperation principle, namely "freedom, balanced, cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual benefit and win-win results." The Dakar Youth Olympic Games hosted by Senegal will open from October 31 to November 13 next year, which will also be the first time that the Olympic series will be held on the African continent. According to the Chinese Embassy in Senegal, China has provided support for Senegal's preparation for the Dakar Youth Olympics.

It is reported that the Senegalese women's basketball team is currently preparing for the 2025 African Basketball Championship to be held in Côte d'Ivoire in July. However, as the training camp in the United States approached, Senegalese media "Record" reported on the 18th that only two players and two coaches in the team received visas, and the visa applications for the remaining five players and 13 technical, medical and administrative personnel were rejected by the US Embassy in Dakar, disrupting the original plan.

A source close to the matter criticized "Record" that the US's decision to refuse visa "is unreasonable" because Serbia had already completed relevant administrative procedures. "The Ministry of Sports and the Basketball Association have completed all necessary procedures. The competent authorities have issued a convenience letter and directly contacted relevant US authorities. The Basketball Association has also taken the initiative to arrange appointments and prepare visa application materials."

Therefore, there are speculations that the recent tightening of the "political atmosphere" of immigration and entry regulations in the United States may have affected its handling of visa applications for Senegal women's basketball players. According to Babacar Ndiaye, chairman of the Senegal Basketball Association, the US side only renewed its visa for those who hold old visas and rejected new visa applications.

In response, the US Embassy in Senegal did not respond to AFP's request for comment. A spokesperson for the US State Department said that they could not comment on individual cases.

Previously, the White House issued an announcement on June 4, announcing that citizens from 12 countries including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iran, and Yemen would be completely restricted from entering the United States, and partially restricting the entry of citizens of seven countries including Burundi. The Washington Post disclosed on the 14th that the reality of the internal memorandum of the US State Department it saw, the Trump administration is considering further banning the entry of another 36 countries, including 25 African countries, and Senegal is listed.

According to the memorandum, the US, the US, has seen the reality of the internal memorandum of the US State Department. The Trump administration is considering further banning the entry of another 36 countries, including 25 African countries, and Senegal is listed.

According to the memorandum, the US The parties require governments of relevant countries to meet the new standards and requirements set by the US State Department within 60 days, and provide a preliminary action plan before 8 a.m. on the 18th. Senegalese media Senenews said that in response, the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs of Seychelles recently urged its citizens to abide by the US immigration requirements, including promoting the "voluntary departure" mechanism and encouraging illegal immigrants to return to their own country of origin.

The Trump administration's implementation of entry restrictions on specific countries has caused controversy both at home and in the international community. Democrats and other critics in the United States believe that the move is xenophobic and paranoid. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democratic Congressman of Washington, condemned: "This ban is an extension of the 'Muslim ban' during Trump's first term and will only make us more isolated on the world stage. ”

After the U.S. announced restrictions on entry of citizens from multiple countries at the beginning of the month, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has said that there are "a great risk" for anyone to stay in the United States. The BBC expects Trump's entry restrictions to face legal challenges.