Molde Midfielder Daniel Daga Sentenced To Six Months In Prison In Norway

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.

The verdict against Daniel Daga, 19, who plays for Molde FK, was delivered on Tuesday afternoon, March 10. The court also ordered the Nigerian 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.

Daga’s lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, said the player was shocked by the decision and insists 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 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 later on Tuesday, Molde described the situation as difficult and confirmed the player will 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.”

Naija News reports that Molde had announced in December that Daga would step away from training and matches temporarily while the case moved through the courts.

The midfielder joined the Norwegian club ahead of the 2025 season and made 15 appearances, scoring three goals.

Before his move to Europe, Daga featured in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with Enyimba FC after earlier spells at FC One Rocket and Dakkada FC.

At international level, he represented the Nigeria national under‑20 football team and was the youngest player named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Daga started every match for Nigeria until the team were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the South Korea national under‑20 football team, drawing praise for his performances throughout the tournament.