A major controversy has surrounded Nigerian midfielder Daniel Daga after a court in Norway found him guilty of sexual assault and sentenced him to six months in prison, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 19-year-old footballer, who plays for Norwegian club Molde FK, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in April. The case moved through the Norwegian legal system for several months before the authorities formally charged him on December 19, 2025.
According to a VG report from TV 2 Norway, the verdict was delivered on Tuesday afternoon, March 10. The court ruled that Daga must serve a six-month prison sentence. In addition, he was ordered to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner in legal costs.
Despite the ruling, Daga’s legal team has insisted that the young player maintains his innocence. His lawyer has confirmed that the midfielder will appeal the judgment, meaning the case may still continue in higher courts.
An appeal could potentially change the outcome of the case. In some situations, higher courts can review the evidence and either reduce the sentence, overturn the conviction, or confirm the original ruling.
There is also the possibility that his club, Molde FK, could provide support as the legal process continues. However, legal experts often note that once a conviction is announced, the damage to a player’s public image can already be significant.
Before this incident, Daniel Daga was seen as one of Nigeria’s promising young midfielders. He had already represented the country at youth level and gained valuable international experience.
The young midfielder was part of the Flying Eagles squad at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, where Nigeria impressed many observers with their performances.However, the latest court decision has placed his football career under serious scrutiny.
Daniel Daga: Garba Lawal speaks out, warns young Nigerian players
Former Super Eagles midfielder Garba Lawal has reacted strongly to the news of Daga’s conviction. The ex-Nigeria international said he was shocked and saddened when he heard about the development.
Lawal believes incidents like this can damage a player’s reputation and future opportunities in football, especially when they happen in a foreign country.
“I read that Daniel Daga was sentenced to six months in prison or something like that,” Lawal told Complete Sports. “If they put you for one day or for some hours, they dent your integrity.
“Now, if you come out now, for example, which club in Europe wants to sign him? The same thing back home here in Nigeria; they will see you as someone who doesn’t have anything on their mind. It’s so unfortunate. I saw this this morning; I weep for the young coming generation of players. I just weep for them.”
Lawal warned young Nigerian footballers about the risks they may face while playing abroad, especially if they do not fully understand the laws and culture of the countries where they live.
“You went to their country where they have the law in their hand. Anything that the girl says, they will believe her because you are in a foreigner’s posture.”
The former midfielder even shared his personal approach to avoiding similar problems during his playing career.
“Me, I have never been attracted to those white women because I know if you are not careful enough, you end up in problems. As a young player, you need to be very careful. Women, if it’s because of women, why do you travel to Europe? You stay in Nigeria; we have beautiful women here now.”
Lawal also questioned how a player with Daga’s exposure at youth level could end up in such a situation.
“Daga should have that experience because he’s with the Under-20. What do you want again? You’ve already had exposure to travelling.
“You were in Argentina with the Under-20 team, the Bosso team. I was there; I followed them. What makes you lose your conscience and confidence and go and do something different?”
Despite his criticism, Lawal suggested that there might still be a slim chance for the situation to improve if the legal process continues.
“Maybe the club can fight for him, maybe they can reduce the ban, but already the integrity is spoiled. You cannot take it back.”
Lawal won the Olympic gold medal in 1996 and represented Nigeria at four editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, winning one silver and three bronze medals.
