The 31-year-old SuperSport man has been ruled out after missing the last couple of training sessions due to a twisted knee.
 
He is however expected to be back in contention for the remainder of the tournament, if not in the final group match against Morocco, then in the knockout phase, should Bafana qualify.
 
Furman lined up in the engine room alongside fellow defensive midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo in South Africa's opening match in Egypt where they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Ivory Coast.
 
The obvious replacements in the starting XI are Hlompho Kekana, Tiyani Mabunda and Bongani Zungu.
 
Kekana is renowned for his long-range goal-scoring ability and knack of opening up the opposition with defence-splitting passes; and should he be given the nod, he would bring more impetus going forward compared to the defensive-minded Furman. 

Zungu would represent even more of an attacking threat, should coach Stuart Baxter decide to throw a bit more caution to the wind.
 
And with Bafana having shown very little up front against the Ivory Coast, the enforced change may well help provide the creative spark which was missing.
 
"Our forward unit was not firing and there were reasons for that," Baxter admitted after the defeat to the Elephants.
 
"We were too inactive behind their back five. We didn't produce enough goal chances."
 
Friday night's match kicks off at 10pm South African time and takes place at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo.
 
It's a must-win encounter for both countries. Namibia also lost their opener, 1-0 against Morocco.

- ANA