Kuala Lumpur, May 2 (IANS): Bahrain Football Association chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa Thursday achieved a convincing victory in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presidential election, replacing its disgraced former boss Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Supported by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Salman was widely seen as the frontrunner in the election, reports Xinhua.

He won 33 votes, a two-thirds majority in the first round of polling to win the election outright, defeating United Arab Emirate Football chief Yousuf Al Serkal and Thai FIFA Executive Committee member Worawi Makudi.

Saudi Arabian candidate Hafez Ibrahim Al Medlej made a late withdrawal Wednesday.

Sheikh Salman also won election to the FIFA Executive committee by defeating Hassan Al Thawadi from Qatar.

Sheikh Salman will take over from Zhang Jilong, who became acting president after Bin Hammam was banned by FIFA in 2011 for bribery charges.