Hamza Igamane reckons his sensational Europa League display for Rangers could help him make his international breakthrough with Morocco.
The striker made the most of his chance in France after he replaced Cyriel Dessers and bagged a double in Rangers’ 4-1 win at Nice. He’s yet to be capped for his country, although he has been named in provisional squads previously. He helped Morocco win the Under 23s African Cup of Nations last year too.
And he expressed his international ambitions in an interview with the African nation’s press after his heroics in France. Igamane said: “I was really happy with my two goals, but also with my overall performance.
“I have been working really hard in Glasgow to improve my level and also my all-round contribution to the team. I did not find it very difficult to adapt to Scottish football – the game is played really fast and you require great physical effort, but with hard work, I have started to gradually approach the level I was looking to reach.
“The conditions at the club are great for me and all the players find the right environment here to perform well and work in a very good atmosphere. My aim this season is to improve considerably as a player and to become a regular starter for my team. And of course, my big ambition is to be picked for the national team. But at the moment, I am only concentrating on helping Rangers get good results.”
Meanwhile, ex Rangers flop Jerome Rothen accused Nice boss Franck Haise of treating his former side too lightly in the Europa League.
And he reckons they got exactly what they deserved. Rangers romped to an impressive 4-1 win in the south of France and after the game the Nice boss complained that they had too many injured players, with 12 being sidelined, to compete.
But French winger Rothen – who won 12 French caps and had an unsuccessful loan spell at Rangers in 2009 and is now one of France’s most respected TV pundits – insisted their excuses did not wash.
He pointed out: “Franck Haise didn’t put out his best team. He only put some of his best players on for 30 minutes or so. That’s on him. Don’t run away from your responsibilities. He made a mistake when he selected his team. He clearly thought Rangers would be easier than he expected.
“And in the end, he got a punch on the nose. If there are so many injuries, it’s due to bad luck or poor preparation. Maybe he didn’t prepare them well at the start of the season.”