RABAT, Feb. 1 -- FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Saturday proposed a range of new initiatives for the elevation of African football.

Speaking at a seminar in Rabat focusing on the development of competitions and infrastructure in African football, Infantino proposed the creation of a new pan-African club competition, a world nations league for women's football, more frequent youth world championships, more youth competition categories.

The seminar was attended by the President of African Football Confederation CAF, delegates from each of CAF's 54 Member Associations, African football legends, representatives from the international banking and investment industries and the media.

Infantino added that his proposal is part of a joint FIFA/CAF strategy for the elevation of African football focused also on refereeing and investment mobilisation.

Concerning refereeing he proposed the creation of a group of professional referees financed and organised by FIFA in partnership with CAF.

"Referees have to be above and beyond doubt and to do that we have to protect them," he said, adding, "We will take 20 of the best African FIFA referees, professionalise them, and give them permanent, professional contracts. They should be the guardians of the rules of our game and we must protect them and make them totally autonomous."

As for investment mobilisation, FIFA and CAF will assemble a panel of partners and a minimum fund of USD1bln to make solid and sustainable infrastructural investments in Africa, from which FIFA will ensure that this funding is managed via transparent accountable procedures.

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