Berlin [Germany], March 6: Rani Khedira could follow in the footsteps of his famous brother, Sami Khedira, and play at the World Cup in summer - for Tunisia.
Sami Khedira helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup while Rani has agreed to play for the home country of their father, after having dismissed a first approach by Tunisia eight years ago.
The Tunisian FA said on Instagram early Thursday that the ruling body FIFA has "officially approved the change of sporting eligibility of the player Rani Khedira."
The post showed Khedira in a gladiator outfit with an eagle on his shoulder - a reference to the team's colloquial name Eagles of Carthage and its symbol, the bald eagle.
Khedira, 32, was born in Stuttgart and plays for Bundesliga club Union Berlin. He has dual citizenship and played 13 times for German junior national teams.
He was approached by Tunisia in 2018 but turned them down, saying: "I was born and raised in Germany. I only speak German."
The Tunisian FA said he is elegible immediately and could get a first call-up for tune-up matches against Haiti and World Cup co-hosts Canada at the end of March.
The team, which has a German assistant coach in Michael Hefele, has been drawn to play the Netherlands, Japan and a play-off winner at the World in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Source: Qatar Tribune
