A Norwegian court has sentenced Flying Eagles midfielder Daniel Daga to six months in prison for committing a sexual act without consent.
The Nordmøre and Romsdal District Court delivered the verdict on March 10, finding the 19-year-old Molde FK player guilty under Section 297 of the Norwegian Penal Code. He was also ordered to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner (approximately ₦1.45 million) in legal costs.
The midfielder has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings and plans to appeal the decision. His lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, confirmed the appeal to Norwegian media.
“He is very upset about the verdict. He believes he is innocent and that everything happened with consent,” Bolstad told TV2. She added that the verdict is not yet legally binding as the appeal process begins.
The case stems from an incident reported to Norwegian police in late April 2025. During court proceedings, prosecutors requested a six-month prison sentence, which the court upheld.
Molde FK acknowledged the seriousness of the case and confirmed Daga has been excluded from the matchday squad until further notice.
“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 a statement.
The Norwegian club had earlier withdrawn Daga from training and matches during the investigation and removed him from their winter training camp in Spain in January 2026.
Daga joined Molde ahead of the 2025 season and made 17 appearances for the club, scoring three goals. Before his move to Europe, he played for FC One Rocket, Dakkada FC, and Enyimba FC in Nigeria.
At international level, Daga represented Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he started every match as the Flying Eagles reached the quarter-finals before losing to South Korea.
Uncertainty now surrounds the young midfielder’s future at Molde and his career as the appeal process unfolds.
