Nigerian wonderkid Daniel Daga announced himself on the European stage in stunning fashion as Molde secured a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Shamrock Rovers to reach the last-16 of the UEFA Conference League.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who joined Molde from FC ONE Rocket in January, was left on the bench in the first leg as his side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at home. However, in the return fixture at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, Daga was given his chance – and he made sure to grab it with both hands.
Molde started strong, leveling the tie early on when Magnus Wolff Eikrem punished a costly defensive error by Shamrock Rovers’ goalkeeper Edward McGinty, smashing in a stunning effort from outside the box. With the aggregate score now at 1-1, both teams battled fiercely, but despite the best efforts of Shamrock’s 16-year-old sensation Michael Noonan, the match remained deadlocked after extra time.
With everything riding on the penalty shootout, Daga stepped up confidently as one of Molde’s five spot-kick takers, converting his effort with ice-cool composure. His side held their nerve, and when Shamrock’s Aaron Greene missed his crucial penalty, Molde sealed a 5-4 shootout triumph to book their spot in the next round.
For Daga, this was more than just a win—it was a statement. The highly-rated Nigerian Youth International is already being recognized as one of football’s rising stars, with some experts placing him among the top 50 young talents in the world—a list led by Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
As Molde march on in the UEFA Conference League, all eyes will be on Daga, whose fearless display under pressure has only fueled excitement about his future in European football.
