Rwandan veteran midfielder Haruna Niyonzima has confirmed that he has retired from international football after nearly two decades in the Rwandan shirt.

His decision comes after two years without an international callup.

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"I have taken the decision to retire from international football. I feel, after a lot of careful thought and numerous discussions with my family, this is the right decision,” Niyonzima told local sports radio B&B Kigali FM.

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"My love for my country will never change but I want to take time to focus purely on myself. I wish Rwanda all the best and the team will always be in my heart,” he added.

Niyonzima, who made his senior international debut for Rwanda in 2006, said it was not the way he wanted to retire from the national team and would have preferred a farewell match which he thinks would have been his best last moment of his career as a player.

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Niyonzima, 34, is Rwanda’s most-capped player with 110 caps from which he scored six times in the process.

In November 2021, FIFA’s Century Club only includes players who have played 100 or more "A" (senior) internationals for their country, after featuring 104 times for Amavubi, to become the only Rwandan footballer to reach a century of caps in the senior national team history.

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His retirement comes two after parting ways with Rayon Sports due to unpaid sign on fee.

He previously played for Etincelles, Rayon Sports, APR, and AS Kigali in the Rwanda Premier League and Tanzanian Giants Young Africans and SC Simba and Al Ta&039;awon in Libya.