South Africa left-back Patrick Phungwayo has withdrawn from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations squad due to a knee injury.

He missed a friendly win over Zambia last weekend and failed to recover during training in Gabon capital Libreville.

A national football association statement said a replacement would be named soon with Mzikayise Mashaba from Mamelodi Sundowns a contender.

Mashaba was included in a 34-man preliminary squad later reduced to 23 players for the January 17-February 8 Africa Cup in Equatorial Guinea.

Goalkeeper Darren Keet temporarily left the squad Saturday to be with his Belgium-based wife, who is expecting their first child.

Keet, promoted to first choice after goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa was murdered three months ago, is expected back in Libreville early next week,

South Africa are in Group C -- labelled the group of death -- with title favourites Algeria, four-time champions Ghana, and Senegal.