Nigeria extend lead over rivals Ghana, South Africa in the latest FIFA Ranking

The Super Eagles have restored national pride after moving four places in the latest FIFA rankings, securing a place back in Africa's top five elite teams and staying ahead of rivals Ghana and South Africa.

In the latest ranking released by FIFA,Nigeria has moved from 45th in the last to 41st, moving back into Africa’s top five following the Victor Osimhen-inspired win against the Cheetahs.

The true story of the Super Eagles’ latest surge up the FIFA rankings is not a tale of numbers, but a testament to the emotional power of a promise kept: The promise of a giant reawakening.

For millions, the steady slide in the global hierarchy had felt like a bruise on the national spirit, a collective frustration that whispered that Nigeria was no longer one of Africa's untouchables.

This was the burden the team carried into Uyo, a pressure that transcended the simple need for three points; it demanded redemption. That profound belief manifested through ruthless, undeniable dominance against the Benin Republic. 

The Super Eagles did not wait for the game to come to them; they seized it with an aggression and tactical clarity that had been missing for too long. 

Leading this ferocious charge was Osimhen, embodying the team's renewed swagger. Just three minutes into the contest, he provided the electric spark, finding the net with the decisiveness of a man determined to write a new chapter. 

He wasn't just scoring goals; he was delivering emotional dividends, doubling the lead in the 37th minute and completing his majestic hat-trick just six minutes after the restart. It was a performance that announced the Super Eagles had remembered who they were.

The 4-0 thrashing was the glorious result of this conviction, a scoreline that did more than just secure their place in the playoff round of the World Cup qualifiers. 

In the latest update from FIFA, that powerful victory was quantified: Nigeria officially jumped four places globally, rising from a worrying 45th to a respectable 41st. 

More significantly, it confirmed their definitive return to the continental elite, with the Super Eagles now safely nestled back inside Africa's Top 5. The climb is a concrete measure of a team shifting from potential to performance.

Nigeria's latest position also extends her lead over World Cup bound duo, West Africa giants Ghana (73rd) and South Africa, who dropped four places to 59th.

Meanwhile, sitting at the top is Morocco, who dropped one spot in the World, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria, who moved three spots respectively in the world.