Members of Senegal women national basketball team don return to di court for central Dakar, wia dem spend dia first morning of practice to drill technique inside Marius Ndiaye arena. Di sessions suppose to take place for United States dis week but dem shift am go Senegal short notice, afta US reject visa for 12 of Les Lionnes players and staff.
Di timing don attract attention. Di rejections show just days afta Senegal appear for list of countries wey US dey consider to add to travel ban. Captain Yacine Diop tell reporters for Dakar practice say di matter no lie for team hand, while assistant coach Madiene Fall kuku just talk am straight: "E no work out. We dey here today, and we need to deal with am."
Fall point to past results, note say di team win silver medal for 2023 AfroBasket for Kigali afta dem train for Senegal, and insist say di players success no depend on where dem train. Diop add say di 10-day window too short sotay "e no matter whether we go US or we stay here."
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko cancel di team participation for US training shortly afta dem report di visa rejections, as e praise Beijing inside im announcement. Local newspaper Sud Quotidien use headline "Sonko 'dunks' Washington and laud Beijing" di next day. US Embassy no respond to request for comment on di visa decisions, while State Department say dem no fit discuss individual cases.
Di women dey prepare for women AfroBasket 2025 for Ivory Coast next month. Les Lionnes don finish first or second for eight of di last 10 editions of di tournament.
