Rangers ace set to earn first call-up at World Cup semi-finalists, he'll join Real Madrid star in squad
12/17/2024 02:00 PM
Such had been the level of his impact since forcing his way into Philippe Clement’s XI, it was a surprise that there was no goal for the £1.7 million man in Rangers’ League Cup final defeat to Celtic.
He had his chances too.
In particular, as the ball dropped loose inside the Celtic penalty area during a frantic second-half at Hampden Park. Hamza Igamane has caught just about every shot he’s hit over the last few weeks pretty much plum.
But not this one.
Igamane, perhaps distracted by the flying Celtic bodies in front of him, perhaps with the size of the occasion in the back of his mind, barely made contact with a wild volley as he failed to add to a tally of five goals in his previous six Rangers outings.
Yet, off-days are to be expected for one so young. While Philippe Clement remains glowing in his praise for Igamane, it should not be forgotten that the 22-year-old centre-forward was playing a back-up role behind Cyriel Dessers only a few weeks ago.
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Rangers ace Hamza Igamane set for first Morocco call-up
Igamane has been nothing short of sensational since ousting Dessers as Rangers’ first-choice number nine.
So it should come as no surprise, really, that the progress of the former RAF Rabat youngster has caught quite a few eyes back home in his North African homeland.
Morocco boss Walid Regragui, according to local publication Analkhabar, has already decided that Igamane will be part of the Atlas Lions’ senior squad when international football resumes in March.
Regragui and his staff, the report adds, have been ‘convinced by the player’s performances and talent’.
Igamane, then, should find himself sharing a dressing room with the likes of Real Madrid playmaker Brahim Diaz and £17 million Fenerbahce striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
Morocco, semi-finalists during the Qatar World Cup in 2022, can boast a squad with plenty of talented wide forwards and wingers, from Real Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli to Lille schemer Ousame Sahroui.
Regragui has much fewer options for the number nine role, however. This could explain Igamane’s rather rapid rise to prominence, less than a year after he earned his first cap for Morocco’s Under 23 selection.
Leon Balogun likens Igamane to Didier Drogba
An old-school, square-shouldered centre-forward, Igamane’s powerpacked shooting from any range and any angle reminds Rangers teammate Leon Balogun of one of the 21st century’s finest attackers.
"I think he's had an excellent run,” Balogun said after Igamane put Rangers ahead against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League. “Hamza is a strong player. The way he controls the ball with his chest… I don't think I've seen it a lot.
"I don't want to praise him too much, but it reminds me a little bit of [Chelsea legend] Didier Drogba. But that's a big [statement], so don't tell him I said that!
"No, but it's very refreshing. It's very nice to see it. And, yeah, he's delightful. He's got a bit of cheek to him as well. Loves a nutmeg. He's been really, really good. I think his performances speak for themselves."
Like the aforementioned Drogba, Igamane combines fearsome shot power with superb hold-up play with his back to goal.
"It's incredible how he has made his adaptation without understanding one word of English!," Clement beamed after Igamane scored a stunner in Rangers’ win over Ross County.
"I think it helps that we have a few people in the club who can speak French, like a few [of the] players and me also. I can go into detail with him in French.
"Yeah, he's a bright light. What we hoped he would be. [When] buying him, we saw the potential. But you can never know how fast they will adapt to a totally different culture, lifestyle, football at a higher level.”
