Daniel Daga Shines on European Debut as Molde Edge Shamrock Rovers to Reach UEFA Conference League Last-16″
Nigerian teenager Daniel Daga made a memorable European debut as Molde triumphed over Shamrock Rovers in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the last-16 of the UEFA Conference League.
Daga, who joined Molde from FC ONE Rocket in January, had been an unused substitute in the first-leg, where Molde lost 0-1 at home. However, in the second leg at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, the 18-year-old came off the bench and made his mark in the shootout after the match ended 1-0, leveling the aggregate score.
Molde’s equaliser came early in the match, with Magnus Wolff Eikrem pouncing on a defensive error from Shamrock Rovers’ goalkeeper Edward McGinty and his defenders to strike from outside the box, ensuring the tie was tied 1-1 on aggregate.
Despite the setback, Shamrock Rovers, who had led 1-0 from the first leg, remained resilient. Their star player, 16-year-old Michael Noonan, continued to lead the charge, but extra time didn’t bring a breakthrough for the home side.
In a tense penalty shootout, the Irish team’s dreams were dashed when Aaron Greene missed his spot-kick, allowing Molde to seal a 5-4 victory and a place in the next round.
For Daga, the match marked a significant step in his development. The Nigerian Youth International, who has quickly earned a reputation as one of the top young talents, was one of the five Molde players to convert their penalties, showing composure under immense pressure. His contribution on the European stage has only added to the excitement surrounding his future, as he continues to impress at both club and international levels.
As Molde progress to the last-16 of the UEFA Conference League, all eyes will now be on Daga, who is quickly rising through the ranks and is already being tipped as one of the top 50 football talents in the world, a list currently headed by FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
