Waseige will keep Algeria waiting
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) -- Belgium's 2002 World Cup coach Robert Waseige says he is not yet ready to sign his contract with the Algerian national team, due to other commitments.
Algerian state radio reported last Saturday that Waseige, currently in charge at strugglers Charleroi, would take over Algeria from April 1 until 2006.
But the 64-year-old said on Thursday: "Even if the Algerian football association and myself have agreed on a two-year contract, it is not signed yet."
He added: "I still have to go to Algiers to sign the contract with the Minister of Sports and I don't have a date to do so yet.
"I am still very busy with my task with Charleroi, which is to keep the club in the first division.
"But the Algerian FA was very clear. Once the contract is signed, they want me as soon as possible there to coach their team.
"I had a word about that with my president in Charleroi, Abbas Bayat, about letting me go once the club is saved. But, of course, I cannot put a date on that either."
Charleroi, where Waseige has been sporting director since October, are third from bottom of the Belgian first division and in danger of relegation.
Waseige is set to replace Algerian Rabah Saadane, who resigned in February after 3-1 defeat by Morocco in the African Nations Cup quarterfinals, and will take charge for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.
Algeria have been drawn in Group Four in the preliminary round with Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Angola, Gabon and Rwanda. They play Angola at home on June 4.
Waseige was in charge of the Belgian national team from August 1999 to July 2002, and steered his side to the second round of the 2002 World Cup, where they lost to Brazil. He was replaced by Aime Anthuenis.
