A Norwegian court has sentenced Nigerian U-20 international and Flying Eagles midfielder Daniel Daga to six months in prison after finding him guilty of committing a sexual act without consent. The verdict was delivered by the Nordmøre og Romsdal District Court in Norway on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old footballer, who currently plays for Norwegian club Molde FK, was also ordered by the court to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner (about ₦1.45 million) in legal costs as part of the ruling.
The case stems from an incident that was reported to Norwegian police in late April 2025. Following investigations, prosecutors charged the Nigerian midfielder under Section 297 of the Norwegian Penal Code, which criminalises sexual activity carried out without consent.
During the court proceedings, prosecutors requested a six-month custodial sentence, which the court ultimately upheld after concluding that the act occurred without the consent of the complainant. Public reports have provided limited details about the circumstances of the incident.
Daga’s lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, said the player is disappointed with the ruling and maintains that the encounter was consensual. She confirmed that the Nigerian footballer plans to appeal the verdict, meaning the judgment is not yet legally final under Norwegian law.
In a statement issued after the court decision, Molde FK said it was aware of the verdict and described the matter as serious. The club added that Daga will not be included in matchday squads while the legal process continues.
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Before moving to Europe, Daga played in the Nigerian domestic league for clubs including FC One Rocket, Dakkada FC, and Enyimba. He gained wider recognition after representing Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where the Flying Eagles reached the quarter-final stage.
With the appeal process expected to follow, uncertainty now surrounds the young midfielder’s future both at Molde and within Nigeria’s national youth setup.
