Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has cancelled a scheduled training camp in the United States for the national women’s basketball team, following the denial of entry visas to several players.
The decision, announced on Thursday, June 19, underscores Senegal’s commitment to asserting sovereignty in its international engagements.
The ten-day training camp was originally set to take place in the US as part of the Lionesses’ preparations for upcoming international competitions.
However, after multiple team members were denied visas, the Prime Minister ordered that the camp be relocated to Dakar.
“This is not just about sports. It is about dignity and sovereignty,” Sonko stated in an official communication.
“We are creating a sovereign framework conducive to the performance of our athletes.”
Labeling the visa refusal as “an unacceptable obstacle,” Sonko directed the Minister of Sports to reorganize the team’s preparation within Senegal.
The move is seen as part of a broader shift in Senegal’s foreign policy, placing emphasis on internal resilience and reduced dependence on external arrangements.
In the same statement, Sonko expressed appreciation to the People’s Republic of China, which has provided “several dozen preparation scholarships” for Senegalese athletes and their coaches in the lead-up to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The gesture, he noted, reflects a growing bilateral partnership grounded in mutual respect and strategic cooperation.
Sonko also reiterated Senegal’s evolving doctrine of international cooperation, rooted in “freedom, balance, mutual respect and shared benefit.”
The episode has sparked wider discussions on visa inequalities and their impact on international sports.
While US authorities have not publicly commented on the specific visa denials, the incident has drawn criticism from advocates of equitable access for athletes globally.
With the training camp now confirmed in Dakar, the Lionesses will prepare on home soil—under national banners and with renewed motivation to compete at the highest level, without dependency on foreign systems.
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