19-year-old Flying Eagles midfielder sentenced to six months in prison for sexual assault

A Norwegian court sentenced Flying Eagles midfielder Daniel Daga to six months in prison for committing a sexual act without consent, Soccernet.ng reports. 

The Nordmere and Romsdal District Court delivered the verdict on March 10. In addition to the prison term, VG reports that the 19-year-old has been ordered to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner (around ₦1.45 million) in legal costs.

Daga, who plays for Molde FK, has maintained his innocence and plans to appeal the decision.

Daniel Daga plans appeal after Norwegian court verdict

The case stems from an incident reported to Norwegian police in late April 2025, which led to Daga being formally charged under Section 297 of the Norwegian Penal Code for sexual activity without consent.

During the court proceedings, prosecutors requested a six-month prison sentence, a request the court ultimately upheld. Public reports provide limited details of the alleged incident.

Daga’s lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, said the midfielder strongly disputes the ruling and intends to challenge the verdict.

“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 player prepares to file an appeal.

The defence has consistently argued that the sexual encounter acknowledged by Daga was consensual and involved no violence or threats.

Norwegian court finds Daga guilty, orders prison sentence

The Nordmøre and Romsdal District Court ruled that Daga committed a sexual act without the woman’s consent, a violation of Section 297 of the Norwegian Penal Code.

According to reports from Norwegian media, the court sided with the prosecution’s argument that the encounter constituted a criminal offence under Norwegian law. As a result, the court imposed a six-month custodial sentence and ordered the Nigerian midfielder to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner in legal costs.

Molde suspend Daga as legal case continues

Earlier, Molde acknowledged the seriousness of the case in an official statement and confirmed that the midfielder 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.

The Norwegian side had earlier withdrawn Daga from training and matches during the investigation and also 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, the midfielder played for FC One Rocket, Dakkada FC and Enyimba FC in the Nigerian league.

At the 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.

As the appeal process unfolds, uncertainty now surrounds the young midfielder’s future at Molde and his career.