Amajita lined up against Tanzania at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday without Asekho Tiwani after it was revealed that he had returned home due to a knee injury.

The South Africa Under-20 captain got injured in their Group A opener against Egypt on Sunday as Raymond Mdaka’s side slipped to a 1-0 defeat at the Cairo International Stadium.

It was another huge setback for Mdaka, who was already without Mbekezeli Mbokazi after Orlando Pirates decided to keep hold of the 19-year-old centre-back in their pursuit of silverware in the run-in to the season.

Kaizer Chiefs striker Naledi Hlongwane joined Tiwani on the flight back to Mzansi as he had issues with registering for the tournament.

Mdaka lamented the loss of the Mamelodi Sundowns left-back after just one game and stated that the team doctor was certain that the injury wouldn’t heal within three weeks when the African Showpiece is set to conclude.

“With the captain, it might not be so bad but it’s something that cannot heal now – that’s the challenge, so we had to release him,” Mdaka said.

“It’s something that might take more than three weeks, we’re not sure, but from the doctor’s side, it’s something that he can’t immediately play now.

“It’s the biggest blow because we had him and Mbekezeli, and I would know that I’m rock solid at the back. But we can’t cry, it’s a situation that happens in football, and we’ll see how we go forward without them.”