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On Monday, July 14, 2025, Mali has issued a strong diplomatic protest against the Czech Republic for denying entry visas to its U19 women’s basketball team, preventing their participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup held in Brno, from 12 to 20 July. The Foreign Ministry labelled the move as an “unfriendly act” and a violation of host nation obligations, emphasising that the team was set to represent not just Mali, but the entire African continent on the global stage.
FIBA confirmed that the Malian delegation could not travel due to visa issues, resulting in the cancellation of their scheduled matches against Australia, France, and Brazil. The incident has left Nigeria as the only African representative in the tournament. Mali’s Government expressed deep regret over the exclusion, demanding a full explanation from Czech authorities for what it called a “deeply regrettable” and unjustifiable action.
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