Norwegian Court Jails Nigerian Footballer
Last update: March 11, 2026
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Norwegian court sentences Nigerian footballer Daniel Daga to six months in prison.
A Norwegian court has sentenced Nigerian midfielder Daniel Daga to six months in prison after finding him guilty of committing a sexual act without consent.
The verdict against the 19-year-old, who plays for Molde FK, was delivered on Tuesday afternoon, March 10.
The court also ordered the player to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner in legal costs.
According to Norwegian broadcaster TV 2 Norway, the ruling matched the punishment requested by prosecutors.
CBI News reports that Daga’s lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, said the footballer was shocked by the court’s decision and maintains that 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 judgment.
“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 development as a difficult situation 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.”
Molde had earlier announced in December that Daga would step away from training and matches temporarily while the case proceeded in court.
The midfielder joined the Norwegian club ahead of the 2025 season and made 15 appearances, scoring three goals.
Before moving to Europe, he played in the Nigeria Premier Football League with Enyimba FC after earlier spells at FC One Rocket and Dakkada FC.
At the international level, Daga 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.
He started every match for Nigeria until the team were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the South Korea national under-20 football team, earning praise for his performances throughout the tournament.
