Nigerian U20 international Daniel Daga announced his arrival in Norwegian top-flight football with a decisive contribution on Sunday, netting his first league goal to inspire Molde to a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Valerenga.
The 18-year-old former Enyimba of Aba midfielder came off the bench in the 77th minute with Molde trailing 2-1, and made his presence felt almost immediately.
Just three minutes later, Daga showed poise beyond his years, sweeping home from the centre of the box into the top-right corner after being teed up by the influential Magnus Wolff Eikrem.
It was a moment to savour for the dynamic central midfielder, who has now featured in six league matches this season—all from the bench—and has accumulated 101 minutes of game time.
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Matchday 10 will go down as a milestone in his budding European career.
Earlier in the match, Molde had taken the lead through veteran forward Magnus Eikrem, but Valerenga responded with goals from Filip Thorvaldsen and Fidèle Brice Ambina—both well-worked team moves that briefly gave the home side a 2-1 advantage.
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However, Molde’s late rally saw Daga level the scores at 2-2 before striker Fredrik Gulbrandsen completed the comeback with a towering header in the 84th minute.
Daga’s Growing Influence
While Daga is yet to make a starting league appearance for Molde, his steady integration into the squad has been closely watched by Nigerian football fans and scouts alike.
Known for his tough tackling, quick transitions, and long-range shooting ability, Daga was a standout performer for Nigeria’s U20s at the FIFA U20 World Cup last year.
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Molde’s coaching staff have been easing the €900k-rated midfielder into the pace of European football, and Sunday’s goal may well be the catalyst for more consistent opportunities in the coming weeks.
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Molde manager Per-Mathias Høgmo’s substitutions proved vital, with Jalal Abdullai and Daga injecting fresh energy into the side’s midfield and forward line. It was Eikrem who pulled the strings throughout, assisting both Daga and Gulbrandsen’s goals.
