Norwegian club Molde Fotballklubb has suspended Nigerian midfielder and former Flying Eagles player Daniel Daga after he was formally indicted on a s*xual assault charge in Norway.
Daga, 18, is accused of committing a s*xual act without consent, an offence under Section 297 of the Norwegian Penal Code. The alleged incident was first reported to the police in late April 2025, according to the club.
In an official statement issued on Friday, Molde FK confirmed that legal proceedings are expected to commence in March 2026 at the Nordmøre and Romsdal District Court.
The club said both Daga and Molde FK “have cooperated fully with Norwegian police throughout the investigation.”
Following notification of the indictment, the midfielder has been barred from all training sessions and match activities “for the foreseeable future.”
Before his suspension, Daga last featured for Molde on November 24 in a 2-1 away victory against Strømsgodset. He has played 15 matches across all competitions for the club this year, scoring two league goals.
Daga joined Molde FK from Nigerian side FC ONE Rocket in January on a three-year contract. In October, he represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the second time, where the Flying Eagles were eliminated 4-0 by Argentina in the round of 16.
After the conclusion of the 2025 season, the club said the player returned to Nigeria for a scheduled holiday, adding that arrangements have been made for his return to Norway ahead of the court hearings.
Molde FK chairman, Odd Ivar Moen, described the situation as grave and stressed the club’s responsibility in managing the case.
He was quoted saying: “We have previously experienced how demanding these types of cases are for everyone involved, for the club, and for our community. This is a matter of a serious nature, and we view the indictment with the utmost seriousness.”
Moen added that the club has been in contact with the complainant’s legal counsel, noting the strain the case has caused.
“We want to act respectfully and facilitate a fair process for those affected,” he said.
Daga’s lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, however, denied the allegations on his behalf. While confirming that a s*xual encounter took place, she insisted it was consensual.
“My client does not plead guilty and believes he has done nothing illegal,” Bolstad said. “There is no suspicion of violence or threats. He looks forward to having the case heard in court so he can clear his name.”
