Nigerian midfielder Daniel Daga has made an impressive return to competitive football, scoring in consecutive league appearances for Norwegian club Molde FK following his acquittal by a Norwegian appeal court.
The 19-year-old midfielder scored in Molde’s 4-2 comeback victory over KFUM Oslo before finding the net again in the club’s 3-3 draw with Sarpsborg 08 at Aker Stadion.
Daga’s latest goal came when he reacted quickest at the back post to head home from close range following a flick-on from a corner. The strike came about a week after he opened his account for Molde in the victory over KFUM Oslo.
His return to form represents a significant turnaround for a player whose football career had been disrupted by a legal case in Norway.
Daga was initially convicted by a Norwegian district court in March 2026 and sentenced to six months in prison over a sexual offence. He maintained his innocence and appealed the decision.
The Frostating Court of Appeal subsequently overturned the conviction and acquitted him. Reports said the seven-member appellate panel unanimously cleared him of the allegations.
Following the appeal ruling, Molde reinstated Daga and made him available for selection. The club had previously removed him from first-team activities while the legal proceedings were ongoing.
Daga marked his return to Molde’s starting line-up against KFUM Oslo by scoring the equaliser in the 40th minute after the hosts had taken an early lead. Molde eventually completed a 4-2 comeback victory.
He then continued his resurgence against Sarpsborg 08, scoring in the 3-3 draw and underlining his growing influence after his return.
The midfielder joined Molde after establishing himself as one of Nigeria’s promising young players. He represented the Flying Eagles at the 2023 and 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cups and previously played for Enyimba before moving to Norway.
His consecutive goals have renewed attention on the youngster as he seeks to rebuild his career and regain the momentum that made him one of Nigeria’s highly regarded young midfielders.
For Daga, the recent performances provide a strong start to his return to competitive football, with his focus now firmly back on contributing to Molde on the pitch.
