Mali on Monday strongly condemned the Czech Republic for denying visas to its U19 women’s basketball team. The Malian Foreign Ministry said it issued a formal protest to Prague through a verbal note following the visa refusal. The team was scheduled to compete in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, held in the Czech city of Brno from July 12–20.
FIBA confirmed it had been informed that Mali’s delegation could not travel due to visa issues that remained unresolved before the tournament. As a result, Mali’s group-stage matches against Australia, France, and Brazil were cancelled, narrowing Africa’s representation in the tournament to only Nigeria.
Mali’s Foreign Ministry called the incident “deeply regrettable,” saying the players were to represent not only their country but also the African continent. The ministry described the visa denial as an “unfriendly act” and accused the Czech Republic of failing its obligations as a host of an international sporting event.
Mali urged Czech authorities to clarify the circumstances behind the decision and ensure accountability for what it called an “unfortunate” setback. The episode has cast a shadow over the tournament and sparked wider concerns about fairness and inclusion in international sport.
