- Norwegian Court Sentences Nigerian Footballer Daniel Daga To Six Months In Prison
- Player plans to appeal verdict, insisting the encounter happened with consent.
- Molde suspended Daga from matchday squad pending completion of legal process.
Nigerian midfielder Daniel Daga has been sentenced to six months in prison after a Norwegian court found him guilty of committing a sexual act without consent.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the verdict against Daga, 19, who plays for Norwegian club Molde FK, was delivered on Tuesday afternoon, March 10. The court also ordered the footballer to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner in legal costs.
Norwegian broadcaster TV 2 Norway reported that the ruling matched the punishment requested by prosecutors during the trial.
Daga’s lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, said the player was shocked by the verdict and insisted he did nothing wrong.
“He is very upset about the verdict. He believes he is innocent and that everything happened with consent,” Bolstad told TV 2.
She also confirmed that the midfielder plans to appeal the judgement.
“The verdict is not legally binding yet. He should be treated like anyone else until the case is finalised,” Bolstad said, adding that Daga has continued to train normally in recent weeks.
In a statement released later on Tuesday, Molde described the situation as difficult and confirmed that the player would not be selected for matches while the legal process continues.
“This is a very difficult case for everyone involved. Molde Football Club has a responsibility as an employer to take care of our employees in a responsible manner, while also having great respect for the seriousness of the case and the burden it places on all affected parties,” the club said.
“In light of the situation and the ongoing legal process, the club has decided that the player will not be part of the matchday squad until further notice.”
Molde had earlier announced in December that Daga would step away from training and matches temporarily while the case progressed in court.
The midfielder joined the Norwegian club ahead of the 2025 season and made 15 appearances, scoring three goals.
Before moving to Europe, Daga played in the Nigeria Premier Football League with Enyimba FC after earlier spells with FC One Rocket and Dakkada FC.
At the international level, he represented Nigeria’s under 20 team and was the youngest player named in the country’s squad for the 2023 FIFA Under 20 World Cup.
Daga started every match for Nigeria until the team were eliminated in the quarter finals by South Korea, earning praise for his performances throughout the tournament.
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