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Meet Hamza Igamane, Lille's striking sensation

Morocco and Ligue 1 have long had strong links -- from current stars like Achraf Hakimi to legends of the past like Marouane Chamakh, the Atlas Lions have consistently drawn on the French top flight, and now they might have another star on their hands
E. DEVIN
Published on 09/03/2025 at 22:45
2-minute read
Hamza Igamane wasted no time in impressing for his new club with a brace off the bench at the weekend.

Morocco and Ligue 1 have long had strong links -- from current stars like Achraf Hakimi to legends of the past like Marouane Chamakh, the Atlas Lions have consistently drawn on the French top flight, and now they might have another star on their hands in the form of Hamza Igamane. Learn more about Lille's new striker in our latest profile. 

Prolific from an early age

Born in the coastal city of Témara to a family of footballers, Igamane soon joined the academy of AS FAR, a club based in the capital Rabat, and one of the country's most historically successful. While it took some time for him to make his first team debut, by the age of 20 he was a key element in a side that won the league title. His play continued to impress the following season as the team came runners-up and he was pre-selected for the senior national team. 

Strong play in Scotland

Bigger clubs soon came calling, and last summer he joined Scottish side Rangers, one of the most historic sides in the world. With 16 goals in all competitions, he helped the Glasgow side impress domestically and in Europe, reaching the quarterfinals of the Europa League despite the dismissal of Philippe Clement. 

Last week, he made the move across the Channel to join Les Dogues, a team with no small reputation for developing talent while also maintaining a competitive level in Europe and domestically. He proved to be a smash hit in his first appearance, scoring a brace off the bench in a 7-1 win over Lorient, a performance lauded by manager Bruno Génésio: "Hamza only had one training session with us and very little playing time with his former club this season. I decided to bring him on at half-time thinking he could be of service to us because he's very comfortable in tight spaces and very technical."

Speaking after his signing last week, Igamane said, "I'm happy to sign for a very big club with a great sporting project; LOSC is not a club like the others; it has a great history and has won many trophies. Every season, it plays in European competitions." Given his strong start -- and the team's (Lille are third) -- there looks to be plenty of scope to fulfill those ambitions.

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