World Cup: ‘Why can’t Africans be here?’ Koulibaly questions US travel ban

By Ayobami Okerinde

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly has questioned the United States’ travel restrictions on Senegalese nationals, saying the measures have prevented many supporters from attending the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Speaking after Senegal’s 3-1 defeat to France in their opening match on Tuesday, Koulibaly expressed disappointment that many fans from the West African nation were unable to travel to the U.S. to support the team.

Recall that in December 2025, US president Donald Trump imposed partial bans on four countries; Senegal, Ivory Coast, Iran and Haii, amd also suspended entry into the country for certain immigrants and non-immigrants.

“The federation did the work for us to have parents or our close family with us, But it’s true that some supporters couldn’t fly to America,” Koulibaly told The Athletic.

“I think that every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa cannot have their people.

“I don’t want to speak about politics or something like this. I just want to speak about football, enjoy football, and I think football is for everybody.

“I just want to tell this and I hope that the situation will be OK, but for me the most important is that we have to play for our people.”

Despite the restrictions, Senegal still received support from members of the Senegalese diaspora living in the United States, particularly from communities in New York, where the team’s opening match was played at MetLife Stadium.

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