‘Indescribable joy’: After the week Rangers have just had, you could pick a number of stand-out moments capable of incurring such an emotion.
Jack Butland’s two penalty saves to knock Jose Mourinho out of the Europa League for instance, paving the way for Rangers to face Athletic Bilbao in the quarter-finals next month.
The Mohamed Diomande volley which put Rangers 2-0 up at half-time away to Celtic. Or, following a ferocious Hoops fightback, Hamza Igamane’s ‘phenomenal’ late finish ending the wait for an Old Firm triumph at Parkhead.
The last time Rangers defeated Celtic on their own soil – back in 2020 when COVID restrictions meant the game was played out in an atmosphere more familiar with swimming galas than British football’s fiercest derby – Hamza Igamane was only just getting started as a budding teenager plucked off the streets of Temara and given his chance at AS Far Rabat.
It was a chance he would seize with both hands. That has been a story of Igamane’s career so far. Of chances grabbed, whether it be the chance to go professional in Morocco, the chance to make the move to Rangers, or the chance which he rifled past Kasper Schmeichel in the 88th minute last weekend.
Next up, for Igamane, is a first ever senior appearance for the Moroccan national team. Another chance he has no intention of letting slip.
Hamza Igamane sees his ‘dream come true’ as Rangers striker prepares for Morocco debut
Rangers’ £1.7 million summer signing was called up by Atlas Lions boss Walid Regragui last week. A debut against Niger in Friday’s World Cup qualifier looks likely.
Especially after Hamza Igamane ‘dazzled’ on the training pitch with Morocco, outshining Fenerbahce’s £17 million international veteran Youssef En-Nesyri and giving Regragui a welcome selection headache in the final third.
Speaking ahead of that Niger clash, Igamane opened up on the circumstances surrounding his call-up. One of the three main ambitions on his 2025 bucket list ticked off only three-and-a-half months into the New Year.
“I was busy! When I checked my phone, I found a flood of calls and messages from my family and friends congratulating me,” Igamane smiles. “I felt indescribable joy, because every player in the world dreams of representing their country’s national team.
“Now, that dream has come true for me.”
Igamane joins PSG, Real Madrid and Manchester United stars in Morocco squad
Igamane always wanted 2025 to be the year he became a senior international. The Temara-born striker was part of the Morocco side which triumphed in the Under-23 African Cup of Nations a few years back. He may well be part of the competition proper come December.
Morocco will host AFCON for the first time since 1988. A few stand-out performances and the odd goal before then, and Igamane will be a nailed-on member of Regragui’s party.
“The players welcomed me wonderfully and made me feel like I was part of family. The atmosphere here is perfect, and everything makes me feel comfortable, which helps me adapt quickly,” Igamane adds, his Atlas Lions teammates including Bayer Leverkusen speedster Amine Adli, Real Madrid playmaker Brahim Diaz, Leicester City starlet Bilal El Khannouss and full-backs from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui.
“We have great players representing Morocco at the best clubs in the world, and this enhances the national team’s standing and strengthens the group. We are here to deliver our best performance and achieve results worthy of Morocco.
“I thank everyone who has placed their trust in me, and I promise you that I will do my best to honor the national team jersey and make you happy. Forever Morocco!”
