Daga acquitted of sexual assault charge
July 3, 2026 1:19 am
Former Flying Eagles midfielder Daniel Daga has been acquitted of sexual assault charges by a Norwegian court of appeal, his club, Molde FK, announced on Thursday, The PUNCH reports.
In March 2026, Daga was sentenced to six months in prison after being found guilty of committing a sexual act without consent. The incident reportedly occurred in April 2025, while the 19-year-old was formally charged on December 19, 2025.
Following the conviction, Daga was suspended indefinitely from first-team selection at Molde FK. However, the Court of Appeal has now overturned the verdict, clearing the Nigerian to return to action.
“Daniel Daga is unanimously acquitted in the criminal case that has been dealt with by the Frostating Court of Appeal. Molde FK takes note of the verdict, although the judgment is not yet legally binding,” the club said in a statement on its website on Thursday.
“The club recognises that this has been a serious and burdensome case for everyone who has been affected.
“Since the indictment was filed, Molde FK has made ongoing assessments based on the situation and the club’s responsibilities as an employer. Now that the Court of Appeal’s judgment has been delivered and Daniel Daga has been acquitted, we consider the employment situation to be clarified, and Daniel will be available for selection for Molde FK going forward.”
Daga’s lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, had maintained the player’s innocence after his sentencing in March and subsequently filed the successful appeal.
The midfielder, who represented Nigeria at the U-20 level with the Flying Eagles, joined Molde at the start of the 2025 season. He has made 15 appearances for the Norwegian club, scoring three goals.
Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years
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