Trump Travel Ban Leaves Senegal, Ivory Coast Fans in Limbo

Tangier: The World Cup plans of fans of Africa’s two leading football countries have been disrupted by the travel ban imposed by the Trump administration.

Senegal and Ivory Coast were added to the list of countries with partial entry restrictions in December, to the USA, which hosted the tournament between June 11 and July 19, along with Canada and Mexico.

Fans cheering on two West African teams at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco have been dismayed by restrictions that effectively prevent those without existing visas from traveling to the United States to watch the World Cup.

“I don’t know why the American president wants teams from some countries not to participate. If that’s the case, they shouldn’t agree to host the World Cup,” Senegal fan Djibril Gueye told The Associated Press in Tangier, Morocco.

“It is the responsibility of the United States to provide the conditions, tools and resources to enable qualified countries so that everyone can go and support their team,” Gueye said.

President Donald Trump cited “lack of screening and review” as the main reason for the suspensions. Fans from Iran and Haiti, the other two countries that have qualified for the World Cup, will also be banned from entering the United States; They were included in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.

The restrictions include an exception for players traveling to the World Cup, team officials and close relatives, but no allowances have been made for fans.

“We really want to participate, but we don’t know how,” said Fatou Diedhiou, president of a group of Senegalese female fans. “Now we’re just waiting because the World Cup hasn’t come yet, maybe they’ll change their mind. We don’t know. We’ll wait and see.”

Sheikh Sy supported Senegal at the last World Cup in Qatar and was determined to find a way to get to the United States.

“We traveled everywhere with our team because we are Senegal’s national fans,” he said. “So, since Senegal has qualified for the World Cup, we definitely need to go.”

Senegal, which reached the semi-finals of the African Cup with the hope of a solution, will play its first World Cup match against France at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 16, four days before the Norway match at the same stadium. The final match of the group stage will be played in Toronto on June 26 against the winner of the play-off between Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq.

Ivory Coast also has two matches in the USA; They open against Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14 and finish the group there against Curacao on June 25 after facing Germany in Toronto.

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé was optimistic that a solution could be found for the fans. He pointed out that Ivorian fans faced a similar obstacle when traveling to Morocco for the African Cup due to the visa requirement being imposed before the tournament.

“In the end, everything went smoothly and they were able to come as long as they had tickets to watch the matches. I think everything will be resolved by the time of the World Cup,” Faé told the AP at the team hotel in Marrakesh.

“It’s a celebration, football is a celebration and for me it would be a real shame – especially since the World Cup only happens every four years – it would be a real shame not to allow our fans to come and experience that celebration,” Faé said.

Limited support Senegal and Ivory Coast face the prospect of playing with limited support from fans who are legal U.S. residents, already have visas or have dual citizenship with countries not affected by the travel ban.

Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande said there was little the players could do. This is not their country and their focus is solely on what is happening on the ground.

“It’s okay for us, we can play without fans,” Diomande told the AP. “The important thing is to win every match and fight for every match.”

Team captain Franck Kessie agreed with this view and said that it was up to politicians to find a solution.

“There is also an events committee run by the Ivory Coast FA, so I think together with the government we will put some things in place to make it easier for our fans,” Kessie said.

High costs The travel ban is not the only obstacle faced by Ivory Coast and Senegal fans who want to go to the World Cup.

A fan wearing a lion mask for Senegal said he could travel to the US because he also has French citizenship, but could not due to “a matter of political belief” and the high cost of tickets.

“I got the impression this was all about business. They completely ignored the grassroots part,” said the fan, who gave his name only as Pape.

Speaking in Casablanca, Ivorian fan Tan Detopeu said he feared the team would receive little support in the United States because so few Ivorian fans could afford tickets.

“Even if there wasn’t a ban issue, I don’t think too many people would go to the World Cup because it’s a bit expensive,” Detopeu said.