President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations will take place in every four years, starting from 2028. 

The flagship African football showpiece that brings together the best 24 footballing countries on the continent following a year-long qualification phase.

Motsepe made the announcement during a press conference on the eve of the AFCON 2025 opening ceremony in Rabat that had in attendance key CAF executives. 

After the current edition in Morocco, three East African nations – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are set to host the AFCON 2027 which would be the last in the two-year cycle of the competition. 

Following in the steps of their European and CONCACAF counterparts, the African football governing body also adopted the creation of a new African Nations League that will begin after 2027. 

The new tournament will be similar to Europe’s Nations League with more competitive matches, increased commercial revenue and regular high-level games for national teams. 

Furthermore, CAF announced that AFCON 2025 winner will walk away with $10 million, a 43 per cent increase from the $7 million pocketed by Cote d’Ivoire in the 2023 edition.

The 35th edition of the AFCON will kick-off in Morocco on Sunday with the Atlas Lions taking on Comoros at the newly constructed 69,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The Chicago Bears ownership has failed to get Illinois taxpayers money to build a stadium in Arlington Heights.

A question for the National Football League’s Chicago Bears franchise President and CEO Kevin Warren. Who are you fooling? Warren sent yet another letter to Bears’ ticket holders, marketing partners and fans updating them on how a possible move to suburban Arlington Heights, Illinois from Chicago is going. Well it turns out that moving to Arlington Heights is not going according to plan and another strategy may be needed. Such as speaking to politicians in northwestern Indiana about the possibility of building a stadium-village somewhere near the Illinois-Indiana border south of Chicago maybe 20 or 25 miles from downtown. This is not about jolting Illinois politicians into giving the Bears ownership hundreds of millions of dollars to help build a stadium surrounded by retail businesses, housing, office space and other recreational facilities. Not at all according to Warren. It is all about checking out what else is out there.

“Consequently, in addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana,” Warren wrote in his letter. “This is not about leverage. We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. We invested significant time and resources evaluating multiple sites and rationally decided on Arlington Heights. Our fans deserve a world-class stadium. Our players and coaches deserve a venue that matches the championship standard they strive for every day. With that in mind, our organization must keep every credible pathway open to deliver that future.” It is all about leverage. If Warren can get Indiana Governor Mike Braun to express interest in putting together a proposal for a Bears’ stadium-village, Warren can go back to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and say see they are interested. Are you going to change your mind and allocate funding for our project? Leverage is the name of the game in the stadium game.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

South Florida’s offense is about to look very different — and very dangerous. New USF head coach Brian Hartline, long regarded as one of the brightest offensive minds in college football from his time as Ohio State’s play caller, has assembled a staff built to score points in bunches. With Hartline’s aggressive, modern passing system at the center of the Bulls’ identity, the additions of veteran offensive coordinator Tim Beck and accomplished quarterbacks coach Mike Hartline signal a bold new era for USF Football. Few programs in the AAC — or the nation — will match the combined experience, creativity, and quarterback development pedigree now in Tampa.

Hartline Names Tim Beck Offensive Coordinator

USF officially announced that Tim Beck, the former Coastal Carolina head coach and one of the most experienced offensive coordinators in the country, will take over as the Bulls’ offensive coordinator. Beck brings 37 years of coaching experience, including 12 seasons as an OC at four Power Four programs: Nebraska, Ohio State, Texas, and NC State.

Beck spent the last three seasons as head coach at Coastal Carolina, leading the Chanticleers to three straight bowl appearances — the Hawai‘i Bowl (2023), Myrtle Beach Bowl (2024), and Independence Bowl (2025). His offenses have consistently ranked among the most productive in the nation, and his track record includes developing elite quarterbacks, engineering high‑scoring units, and elevating programs across multiple conferences.

A Proven Play Caller With National Credentials

Beck’s résumé reads like a blueprint for offensive success:

• 19 postseason bowl appearances
• Three‑time Broyles Award nominee
• Top‑10 national recruiter (24/7Sports, 2020)
• Offensive coordinator for Ohio State’s 2016 College Football Playoff run
• Architect of top‑20 offenses at Texas, NC State, and Nebraska

At NC State, Beck helped quarterback Devin Leary set a program record with 35 touchdown passes in 2021 — one of the best seasons by any ACC quarterback in the last decade. With Texas, Beck coached Sam Ehlinger, who produced more than 11,000 passing yards, 1,900 rushing yards, and 127 total touchdowns in his career. At Ohio State, Beck helped guide the Buckeyes to back‑to‑back double‑digit win seasons, including a 12–1 campaign in 2015 and an 11–2 finish in 2016.

Mike Hartline Joins Staff as Quarterbacks Coach

Joining Beck on the offensive staff is Mike Hartline, a former Kentucky quarterback and the younger brother of head coach Brian Hartline. Mike Hartline spent the 2024 season on Beck’s staff at Coastal Carolina and previously worked with him at Ohio State.

Hartline brings 10 years of collegiate coaching experience with stops at:

• Ohio State
• Cincinnati
• Auburn
• Charlotte
• Coastal Carolina
• Kentucky

He has coached and developed quarterbacks at every level, including working with Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett, Joe Burrow, and Dwayne Haskins during his time at Ohio State — a period in which the Buckeyes went 24–3.

A Quarterback Developer With Deep System Knowledge

Brian Hartline emphasized Mike’s value to the program:

“Mike has played the quarterback position at a very high level and has coached several outstanding quarterbacks across seven stops in his 10-year coaching career. He brings a deep familiarity with the offense Coach Beck and I want to run and will be exceptional in developing our players to excel in it.”

Hartline’s coaching journey includes serving as an offensive analyst at Cincinnati during an 11–2 season in 2018, coordinating the offense at Ohio Dominican from 2019–21, and contributing to staffs at Auburn and Charlotte before joining Coastal Carolina.

USF’s New Offensive Identity: Fast, Aggressive, and Quarterback‑Driven

With Brian Hartline’s system at the center, Tim Beck’s play‑calling experience, and Mike Hartline’s quarterback development expertise, USF is positioned to field one of the most dynamic offenses in the American.

This trio brings:

• Elite passing concepts
• Quarterback‑friendly schemes
• Proven player development
• National recruiting reach
• Decades of combined Power Four experience

USF fans have every reason to expect an explosive, modern, and high‑scoring offense — one capable of competing immediately and elevating the Bulls into championship contention.