A court in Norway has sentenced Nigerian U-20 international Daniel Daga to six months in prison after finding him guilty of committing a sexual act without consent.
According to reports by TV 2 Norway, the verdict was delivered on Tuesday by the Nordmøre and Romsdal District Court following a hearing involving the 19-year-old midfielder who plays for Molde FK.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered Daga to pay $1,050 in legal costs. Reports indicated that both the prison term and the fine were consistent with the penalties sought by prosecutors in the case.
Daga, who gained international recognition after representing the Nigeria U‑20 national football team at the 2023 FIFA U‑20 World Cup, has consistently denied the allegations.
Reacting to the ruling, his lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, rejected the judgment and confirmed that the player intends to appeal.
“He is very upset about the verdict. He believes he is innocent and that everything happened with consent,” Bolstad told TV 2, adding that the verdict is not yet legally binding until the appeal process is concluded.
In a statement issued after the ruling, Molde FK described the situation as difficult for everyone involved and confirmed that the player would remain suspended while the legal process continues.
The club noted that Daga, through his legal representative, has already announced plans to appeal the judgment, meaning the case will continue through the Norwegian legal system.
Molde FK added that while it has a responsibility to support its employee, it also recognises the seriousness of the allegations and the impact of the case on all parties involved.
The club confirmed that Daga will remain suspended from team activities pending the outcome of the appeal.
