Daniel Daga
FullnameDaniel Demenenge Daga
Birth date10 January 2007 (age 19)
PositionMidfielder
CurrentclubMolde
Clubnumber27
Youthyears 1–2022
Youthclubs 1Carabana
Years 12022
Clubs 1One Rocket
Caps 17
Goals 12
Years 22022–2023
Clubs 2Dakkada
Caps 217
Goals 29
Clubs 3Enyimba
Years 32023–2025
Caps 310
Goals 30
Years 42025–
Clubs 4Molde
Caps 412
Goals 42
Nationalyears 12023–
Nationalteam 1Nigeria U20
Nationalcaps 16
Nationalgoals 10
Club-update23 September 2025
Ntupdate00:15, 07 June 2023 (UTC)

Daniel Demenenge Daga (born 10 January 2007) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Norwegian club Molde FK and the Nigeria national under-20 football team.[1]

Early life

Daga is from Makurdi, Benue State, in central Nigeria.[2]

Career

Daga was in a football academy at Carabana FC. Daga’s had a breakthrough with the F.C. One Rocket first team in early 2022, competing in the Nigeria National League. That same year Daga then moved to play for Dakkada F.C. in the Nigeria Professional Football League.[3] He joined Enyimba F.C. in September 2023. Daga made his Nigeria Premier Football League debut on the 8th of October 2023, playing 87 minutes against Gombe United. Enyimba lost the game 2-0. Daga won the first Infinix Man of the Match award from Enyimba against Kwara United on the 5th of November. He recorded 11 ball recoveries, had 1 big chance created, had 10 successful tackles, won 8 aerial duels, won 7 interceptions and had a 90% pass Accuracy.[4]

He agreed to join Norwegian side Molde FK in 2024.[5]

International career

Daga was man of the match in three of the Nigeria national under-20 football team’s qualifying matches for the 2023 U20 AFCON tournament.[6] Daga played the opening game of the AFCON U20 tournament against Senegal in February 2023.[7] However, a knee injury sustained in the match ruled him out of the tournament.[8]

In May 2023 he was the youngest player selected in the Nigeria squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[9] He started all Nigeria’s games until they were knocked out of the tournament at the quarter-finals to South Korea U-20.[10] He received praise for his performances at the tournament.[11] His performance in a victory of Italy U-20 at the tournament led to him being labelled a “star in the making”.[12]

In March 2024, he was named in the a Nigeria squad for the delayed 2023 African Games in Ghana.[13]

Style of play

Daga has been described as a holding midfielder and a disruptive, defensively-minded player.[14][15][16]

Personal life

On 19 December 2025, Daga was charged with sexual assault relating to an incident in April 2025.[17][18] In March 2026, Daga was fined 10,000NKr in court fees and sentenced to six months in prison, which Daga appealed.[19][20]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]ContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Enyimba2023–24Nigeria Premier Football League1000020120
  1. ^ Includes Federation Cup

References

  1. ^ "D. Daga". Soccerway. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Adeyanju, Oluwayemisi Afolabi (May 12, 2022). "Meet Nigeria's Flying Eagles' Daniel Daga; Man of the Match Vs Burkina Faso". ckdmedia.ng. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Daniel Daga: The Flying Eagles phenomenon drawing interest from AC Milan and Liverpool". soccernet.ng. 27 May 2023.
  4. ^ Dairo, Fisayo (23 September 2023). "Daniel Daga joins Enyimba for AFL campaign". aclsports.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  5. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Major blow hits Flying Eagles as top star Daniel Daga misses U20 AFCON qualifiers". Scorenigeria.com. 14 October 2024. Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Flying Eagles sensation Daniel Daga gets huge price tag as more clubs join chase". Scorenigeria.com. January 3, 2023. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  7. ^ "Flying Eagles Sweat on Fitness of Daniel Daga". Scorenigeria.com. February 21, 2023. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  8. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: African giants Al Ahly track Flying Eagles star Daniel Daga". Scorenigeria.com. March 17, 2023. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "FLYING EAGLES SQUAD: Victor Eletu wears jersey No 10, Daga youngest player". Scorenigeria.com. May 13, 2023. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Flying Eagles player ratings: Ogwuche classy; Daga put in his place; Fago subdued". allnigeriasoccer.net. June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "AC Milan makes first move toward signing midfielder Daniel Daga". Owngoalnigeria. 26 May 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  12. ^ "Flying Eagles player ratings: Daga a star in the making; Bameyi versatile; Lawal delivers; Sarki supersub". Allnigeriasoccer. May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "Bosso Unveils Flying Eagles' Squad For Africa Games 2023". Complete Sports. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  14. ^ Bocsak, Ben (26 May 2023). "Patient Liverpool transfer strategy should target future Jürgen Klopp star after maestro display". Liverpool.com. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  15. ^ Alaka, Jide (1 June 2023). "Argentina 0-2 Nigeria: Five reasons Ladan Bosso's Flying Eagles soared into quarterfinal". Premium Times. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Everything you need to know about 21 players picked for U20 World Cup". Scorenigeria.com. May 6, 2023. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Nigeria U-20 midfielder Daniel Daga charged with sexual assault". panafricafootball.com. Pan Africa Football. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  18. ^ "Press release: Charges against Molde Football Club player" (in Norwegian). moldefk.no. Molde FK. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  19. ^ "Nigerian midfielder Daga jailed six months over sexual assault". Vanguard. 11 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  20. ^ "Pressemelding: Spiller i Molde Fotballklubb" (in Norwegian). moldefk.no. Molde FK. 10 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.