Algeria anxious to name new coach, as targets turn down job

Algeria may meet Nigeria in a crucial Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo next month without a substantive coach.

The North Africans parted ways with Rajevan Milovan following a players’ unrest after the team’s 1-1 draw with Cameroun in their opening Russia 2018 qualifier at home.

Since then, Africa’s top ranked nation have been in search of a coach to lead them to the November clash with the Super Eagles in Uyo.

Reports in Italy indicate that former Roma Coach, Rudi Garcia, who is among the coaches penciled for the job, turned down the chance to lead the Brazil 2014 World Cup participants.

According to l’equipe, the French tactician was named as one of the candidates for the role along with Alain Perrin, Paul Le Guen, Rolland Courbis and Marc Wilmots.

Garcia has been unemployed since Roma fired him in January to make way for Luciano Spalletti.

Another coach linked with the North African job is Hubert Fournier, who last coached Olympique Lyon in France.

The 49-year-old Fournier is reportedly interested in the job, but there are certain things he wants the Algerians to put in place if they desired to have him as their coach.

Reports say talks have gone ‘very far’ with Fournier and the Algerian FA hope to announce him as their coach before their game against Nigeria in Uyo next month.

Fournier was sacked as coach of Lyon in 2014 after just a year as coach and he has been without a job since then. Prior to moving to Lyon he coached Gueugnon and Reims.

Another gaffer linked with the job is Paul Le Guen, who has also set conditions that would make him accept the offer.

Among the conditions, according to reports, is that he would be allowed to bring his five staff to the job. But the Algerians want their interim coaches, Belhadji Hassan and Nabil Neghiz, to be part of the technical crew.

Le Guen reportedly held high-level discussions with the FAF president, Mohamed Raouraoua, in Paris last week.

Sacked Belgium coach, Marc Wilmots, is also in contact with the Algerian Federation, but he wants assurances that the North Africans will meet his financial demands.

The Algerians want their new man to assume duties this week so that they will begin preparations for the cracker with Nigeria on November 12.