There were a couple of dreams made this week as two of Rangers’ brightest sparks across the 2024/25 season got their first ever international call-ups.
Nico Raskin is expected to make his long-awaited Belgium debut in the coming days.
Not only did new Rote Duivels boss Rudi Garcia include the Rangers ball-winner in his maiden squad since taking over from Roberto Martinez, he also indicated that Raskin is likely to feature in Amadou Onana’s injury-enforced absence when Belgium take on Ukraine on Thursday.
Joining Nico Raskin in securing a first call-up to the senior squad, meanwhile, is Hamza Igamane.
Despite his barren run extending past two months, Igamane is part of the Morocco roster for March’s World Cup qualifiers against Niger and Tanzania.
Igamane had made a number of appearances for the Atlas Lions at youth level. He was part of the team who claimed the Under-23 African Cup of Nations title back in 2023. His inclusion into the senior squad, meanwhile, is certainly deserved.
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Morocco boss explains Hamza Igamane decision as Rangers star gets first call-up
Despite the goals drying up of late, Igamane has made a flying start to life in European football since joining Rangers last summer for a bargain £1.7 million.
The former AS Far Rabat striker is part of a more youthful Morocco squad, joining Club Brugge teenager Chamseddine Talbi, Marseille midfielder Bilal Nadir and Espanyol right-back Omar Hilali.
For Walid Regragui, the coach who took Morocco to the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup a couple of years ago, talent matters more than experience.
“We want the best players in the Moroccan national team,” Regragui says.
“Meanwhile, I have invited new names to give them the opportunity to make their first appearance in the Atlas Lions shirt, such as Chamseddine Talbi, Omar Hilali, Bilal Nadir, and Hamza Igamane.”
Igamane is an ‘inspiration’ for Morocco’s next footballing generation
Igamane has 13 goals as a Rangers player so far. Twelve of those came in a stunning 15 game spell either side of Christmas. While he did not get on the scoresheet during the two-leg victory over Fenerbahce to set up a Europa League quarter-final clash with Athletic Bilbao, Igamane did help Rangers get over the line on Thursday night with a battling performance off the bench.
He’s scored four times in eight European matches.
Soufiane Ringa, the coach who ‘discovered’ the talented hitman on the streets of Temara, feels that Hamza Igamane’s Rangers rise is not only down to his raw ability.
“Hamza was distinguished, not only in terms of technique but also in terms of his mentality,” Ringa recalls. “He had great self-confidence and, on the pitch, he was seen as a leader.
“I discovered Hamza Igamane on the streets of Temara city. This year, Hamza has proven his quality. Thirteen goals inside just five months. We are still discovering his hidden potential.”
“People watch and comment on everything he does at Rangers,” adds Fernando da Cruz, who helped Igamane play his way into Europe with 16 goals and eight assists in 58 AS Far appearances.
“When he was scoring and creating lots of goals, it impacted people here. Everyone is very proud that Igamane is playing for Rangers. He’s an inspiration for lots of players. His neighbourhood and all Moroccans are proud of him because he has represented Moroccan’s well.”
