Saturday, November 7, 2026

Senegal basketball team blocked from Olympics qualifiers amid coronavirus concerns

FIBA said Senegal would not attend the qualifiers in Belgrade after reporting coronavirus cases last week while in Germany for a tune-up game.

• June 28, 2021
Senegal’s basketball team
Senegal’s basketball team used to illustrate the story[photo credit:FIBA]

Senegal’s dream of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games’ basketball event is over after they were prevented from travelling to Serbia for their qualifying tournament.

This was after they suffered coronavirus cases in the build-up.

World basketball governing body FIBA said Monday that Senegal would not attend the qualifiers in Belgrade after reporting coronavirus cases last week while in Germany for a tune-up game.

Both FIBA and the German basketball federation tried to ease Senegal’s passage to Serbia but this was blocked by authorities.

Senegal was due to meet Puerto Rico and Italy in their group in Belgrade, but both teams have now been awarded victories.

Germany’s team did not have contact with the Senegal squad while they were in the country.

They begin their own journey to the delayed Tokyo Games on Tuesday in Croatia’s split against Mexico.

(dpa/NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Hot news Home top

Faces of Nigerians arrested, convicted, jailed abroad in third quarter of 2026

Nigerian, Izuchukwu Odionye, was arrested for involvement in drug trafficking in Vietnam.

Kayode Ajulo

States

ADC Judgement: Ondo AG urges parties to uphold internal democracy, electoral laws

Mr Ajulo maintained that his position was based on legal principles rather than partisan considerations.

U.S. flag

World

U.S. warns citizens against increased attack threats across Middle East

U.S. authorities warned that escalating regional hostilities could expose American interests overseas.

Nigerian Navy

States

One missing as commissioner, NSCDC official, five others rescued after boat accident in Bayelsa 

The navy said the incident involved a passenger boat travelling from Yenagoa to Akassa.

Chiamaka, Diewait Ikpechukwu and AGN logo

Heading 2

Nollywood actor Diewait Ikpechukwu’s daughter knocks AGN for announcing father’s death 

Ms Chiamax expressed her displeasure in an emotional video posted on her official Instagram page on Friday.

Diewait Ikpechukwu and KADIFF

States

KADIFF mourns veteran nollywood actor Diewait Ikpechukwu

Mr Ikpechukwu, born on August 23, 1955, died on November 5 at age 71, following a prolonged illness.