CAF Infantino, lunch African Football League

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was among those to attend the CAF General Assembly where he revealed the launch of the new African Football League.

The eight-team tournament is expected to start on October 20 and run alongside CAF’s Champions League.

Infantino did not reveal the participating teams but said the event would be "followed in the future with a bigger version".

"We have to invest in African club football as well as national team football," said Infantino.

"It is our responsibility, duty, and task, and with the work and contribution of all of us as a team, we will succeed."

The CAF claimed that an increase in sponsorship and television rights had led to a growth of 17 percent in commercial revenues, rising to $125.2 million (£95.3 million/€111.5 million).

"We’ve always believed that the success and growth of football on the African continent is dependent on the success and growth of football in each member association country," said CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

"Building partnerships with sponsors, investors, and Governments is essential for the competitiveness and growth of football in each African country.

"The prize monies of all major CAF competitions have been increased significantly over the past two years and this has contributed to improving the quality and competitiveness of our competitions."

Augustin Senghor of Senegal, Pierre Alain Mounguengui of Gabon, Kossi Akpovy of Togo, Walter Nyamilandu Manda of Malawi, Mutasim Gafar Sirelkhatim of Sudan, and Abdulhakim Al Shelmani of Libya were elected onto the CAF Executive Committee, securing four-year terms that are set to run until 2027.

Magogo Moses Hassim of Uganda, Mokhosi Phillip Mohabi of Lesotho, Mohamad Ally Sobha of Mauritius, Lazare Bansse of Burkina Faso and Zefizef Djahid Abledwahab of Algeria were unsuccessful in their bids following a vote at the General Assembly.