Norwegian authorities have sentenced Nigerian U-20 international Daniel Daga to six months’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of committing a sexual act without consent.
The Nordmøre and Romsdal District Court handed down the verdict during a hearing on Tuesday, ordering the Molde FK midfielder to also pay $1,050 in legal costs, TV 2 Norway reported. The sentence aligns with the penalties sought by prosecutors.
Daga, 19, represented Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and has played for Norwegian side Molde FK.
Following the ruling, his lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, rejected the judgement, insisting her client is innocent and 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. “The verdict is not legally binding yet. He should be treated like anyone else until the case is finalised.”
Molde FK, in a statement, said the case has been difficult for everyone involved and confirmed that Daga remains suspended from the team pending the outcome of the appeal.
“The player, through his defence lawyer, has announced that he will appeal the verdict. The case is therefore not legally final and will continue to be processed in the legal system,” the club said.
“Molde Football Club, as an employer, has a responsibility to take proper care of our employees, while at the same time we have great respect for the seriousness of the case and the strain it places on all affected parties.”
The club added that officials are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to follow legal developments as Daga pursues his appeal.
