"As soaked Senegal fans celebrated winning the Africa Cup of Nations in a Moroccan rainstorm, thoughts and talk would likely have soon turned to a World Cup opener against France less than six months away. The June 16 clash against their former colonial rulers, who Senegal memorably beat in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, is in the New Jersey stadium which will host the World Cup final. While the 300,000 strong Senegalese diaspora in France should ensure some fans are backing the African champions, those who hold only Senegalese passports will not be allowed in the US."
""I think it's too strong. They've gone too far. The team can't play without its supporters and there are some really fervent supporters who accompany the team everywhere at all times," Singom Dadji Ngam, a Senegal fan and social media personality, told DW during AFCON. "It only affects Senegalese who have just a Senegalese passport. But they are the ones who follow the team in all the qualifying matches.""
"The US says the travel ban, which is lighter than that imposed on some countries, is because of a high overstay rate of about 4% for Senegal and 8% for Ivory Coast on B1 or B2 visitor visas, the type that would be used for a World Cup trip. Trump cited "screening and vetting deficiencies" as justification for the ban. Aside from the two African sides, fans from fellow qualifiers Haiti and Iran will not be able to travel, as they are under even more severe travel restrictions."
Senegal celebrated an AFCON victory amid rain while attention turned to a June 16 World Cup opener against France in the New Jersey stadium that will host the final. Roughly 300,000 Senegalese in France could support the team, but Senegalese citizens holding only Senegal passports are barred from entering the US due to a travel ban added last December. Ivory Coast, Haiti and Iran face similar or stricter restrictions. The US cites high overstay rates (about 4% for Senegal, 8% for Ivory Coast) and "screening and vetting deficiencies" as reasons. Players and coaching staff received exceptions, but fans did not.
Read at www.dw.com
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