Sidka completes deal to coach Iraq's national team

Iraqi sports officials say German coach Wolfgang Sidka has completed a deal to take over the country's national football team.

A spokesman for the Iraqi Olympic committee, Mouanis Abdullah, said Sidka signed a $500,000 contract Monday to coach the national team for one year. The deal was first announced in July.

Abdullah said Sidka will hold his first training session with the team next month.

Iraq is the defending Asia Cup champion, but has struggled on and off the field recently. A sectarian dispute over who should run the sport's federation led to the Iraqi Football Association missing a deadline to elect new leaders.

FIFA gave Iraqi officials an extra year in office to prepare for elections.