Arsenal have strengthened their position in the Premier League title race following their victory over Brighton and Hove Albion, while champions Manchester City dropped points in a draw against Nottingham Forest.

The result leaves Mikel Arteta’s side in a strong position with eight matches remaining in the season, although City still have a game in hand.

With the current points situation, Arsenal remain in control of their destiny.

If the North London side wins all their remaining matches, they will be crowned champions regardless of Manchester City’s results.

One of the most decisive fixtures in the title run-in will be Arsenal’s trip to the Etihad Stadium in April to face City.

The outcome of that encounter could have a significant impact on the direction of the race.

If Arsenal secure victory at the Etihad, they would only need to pick up 15 points from their other seven games to clinch the title, assuming City win all their remaining matches.

However, if the match ends in a draw, Arsenal would need to collect at least 18 points from their remaining seven fixtures to stay ahead of the defending champions.

A defeat in Manchester would place greater pressure on Arteta’s men, as they would then likely need to win all their other league matches to maintain their advantage.

Another factor that could favour Arsenal is their schedule.

The Gunners are set to play most of their remaining league matches in London, with the trip to Manchester expected to be their only major away test in the closing weeks of the campaign.

Still, the run-in could be complicated by other competitions, with Champions League fixtures and domestic cup commitments likely to test squad depth for both sides.

The Premier League run-in is further complicated by the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, where both Arsenal and Manchester City could face another high-stakes encounter. The outcome may provide a crucial psychological boost to the winner ahead of the final weeks of the title race.

As the season enters its decisive phase, Arsenal’s ability to maintain consistency while navigating a demanding schedule may ultimately determine whether they can secure their first Premier League title since Premier League 2003–04 season.

Remaining fixtures:

Arsenal

Sat 14 Mar: Arsenal vs Everton

Sat 11 Apr: Arsenal vs Bournemouth

Sun 19 Apr: Arsenal vs Manchester City

Sat 25 Apr: Arsenal vs Newcastle United

Sat 2 May: Arsenal vs Fulham

Sat 9 May: Arsenal vs West Ham United

Sun 17 May: Arsenal vs Burnley

Sun 24 May: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Manchester City

Sat 14 Mar: Man City vs West Ham

Sun 12 Apr: Man City vs Chelsea

Sun 19 Apr: Man City vs Arsenal

Sun 26 Apr: Man City vs Burnley

Sat 2 May: Man City vs Everton

Sat 9 May: Man City vs Brentford

Sun 17 May: Man City vs Bournemouth

Sun 24 May: Man City vs Aston Villa

The Confederation of African Football has officially postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, shifting the tournament from its initial March schedule to a new window between July and August, PUNCH Online reports.

The continental football governing body confirmed the decision in a statement published on its website on Thursday, ending weeks of uncertainty surrounding the tournament.

The competition, which Morocco secured the rights to host in October 2024, will now run from July 25 to August 16, following consultations between CAF, FIFA and other key stakeholders involved in organising the event.

The tournament was originally scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3.

CAF said the change in dates was necessary to ensure the smooth organisation of the continent’s flagship women’s football competition.

“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 to 25 July – 16 August 2026 to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” the organisation said.

The governing body also expressed confidence that preparations for the tournament were progressing and that the event would meet expectations.

“Preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful,” the statement added.

The announcement comes after growing concerns about the readiness of the tournament, with several pre-competition arrangements yet to be finalised before the initial kickoff date. Key details such as venues for the knockout rounds, accreditation for journalists, match officials and technical workshops had not been confirmed, while promotional activities around the competition were also largely absent.

For defending champions Nigeria, the change in schedule could offer additional preparation time ahead of their title defence.

The Super Falcons recently concluded a two-match friendly series against Cameroon in Yaoundé, losing the first leg 1-0 before bouncing back with a 3-1 victory in the return fixture.

The tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Under the qualification format, the four semi-finalists will secure automatic tickets to the global tournament, while another African side will have the opportunity to qualify through an intercontinental play-off.

Galatasaray have left out Victor Osimhen from their Turkish Cup tie against Alanyaspor on Tuesday (today).

Already qualified, Galatasaray will look to conclude their Group A campaign in the Ziraat Turkish Cup with a flawless four-game run, having won their three previous group-stage matches.

The Istanbul giants are balancing a fierce Süper Lig title race with the demands of the UEFA Champions League knockout stage. They last won the Turkish Cup in 2019.

However, the club has rested Osimhen and other key players to allow them “active rest,” according to an official statement by the Turkish champions.

Incidentally, Osimhen scored a goal and provided an assist in Galatasaray’s 3-1 win over Alanyaspor in a Süper Lig match at the weekend.

Galatasaray face a congested schedule, with six matches in 19 days, including a two-legged UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie against Liverpool.

In the Süper Lig, Galatasaray are chasing a fourth consecutive league title and recently progressed to the Champions League round of 16 after a dramatic tie against Juventus.

Following their win on Saturday, Osimhen urged his teammates to remain focused as they approach a decisive phase of the season in both domestic and European competitions.

Despite the growing excitement, the Nigerian international cautioned that the upcoming run of matches will shape their campaign.

Their cup tie will be followed by a crucial away derby against fierce rivals Beşiktaş—a fixture that could have major implications for the title race, especially with challengers Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor waiting to capitalise on any slip.

After these domestic tests, Galatasaray will host Liverpool in a high-stakes Champions League encounter before travelling to Anfield for the return leg.

“The Beşiktaş match is a critical one,” Osimhen told the club’s official website.

“We’re taking it one match at a time. Of course, it will be a big match. A very high-quality team awaits us, but we also have a very high-quality team. We’ll go there for three points. It won’t be easy. First the Beşiktaş match, then Liverpool—but let’s not forget we also have a cup match against the team we just played. There are many more matches ahead of us until the end of the season.”