Hamza Igamane made a notable impact during a brief ten-minute cameo off the bench, leaving Morocco fans calling for him to start despite a lackluster performance by the national team.
Morocco narrowly edged past Niger 2-1 to maintain their perfect start to World Cup qualifying, needing a stoppage-time winner from Bilal El Khannouss after falling behind early in the second half. They equalized around the hour mark but had to wait until the 91st minute to secure the win, by which time Igamane had been introduced for his senior debut as they desperately chased the game.
Igamane had caught the attention of national coach Walid Regragui after his winner in the Old Firm clash against Celtic, but his brief appearance here gave him little opportunity to stand out. According to Le 360, he was brought on to “breathe new life” into the side, while Lebrief suggested his introduction was an attempt to “inject freshness” as the team struggled.
However, Menara noted that his ten-minute stint “did not change much” in what was an uninspiring team display. Despite this, Moroccan fans saw things differently. One supporter posted online: “I’m delighted for Hamza Igamane. His debut was one of the few positives from the game. Hopefully, this is the start of a great international career with the Atlas Lions.” Another fan insisted: “Against Tanzania, Igamane needs to start, no question.”
A third fan added: “I liked Igamane’s presence. He showed he can make an impact. We need a striker who keeps the opposition on edge and makes them feel his presence.”
Morocco will be back in action on Tuesday, hosting Tanzania at 9:30 pm UK time. Igamane will then return to club duties with Rangers, hoping to find the net again in their away clash with Dundee on Saturday,March 29.
