Tapia, a former roadsweeper and head of the Primera B Metropolitana division side, claimed 40 of the 43 votes cast to become the first permanent President of the AFA since 2015.

He only required a 50 per cent majority to be confirmed as President.

The last election, held in December 2015, descended into farce when Luis Segura and Marcelo Tinelli both secured 38 votes despite only 75 officials being present.

It was held to decide the permanent replacement for Julio Grondona, a controversial figure within the game who died aged 82 in 2014 having been AFA President since 1979.

Segura had taken on the position, but resigned in 2016 after he was charged with fraud.

Since then, the AFA has been in crisis and FIFA opted to appoint a Normalisation Committee to orchestrate the day-to-day running of the scandal-hit organisation in June of last year.

Tapia's election should herald a new dawn for Argentinian football amid a difficult period both on and off the pitch for the national team.

Argentina are in danger of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as they sit fifth in the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) section.

Only the top four sides will secure an automatic berth at the tournament, with the fifth-placed team having to play-off against a side from the Oceania zone.

Their troubles were compounded when FIFA decided to ban FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi for four international matches for verbally abusing an assistant referee during a 1-0 win over Chile, where he scored the game's only goal.

Tapia has targeted overturning Messi's suspension, which the AFA President claims was given because the country has lost its influence within world football's governing body, as one of his early priorities.

"The ban is not fair and it doesn't abide by the rules," said Tapia.

"Part of the situation we live in, in Argentine football, is due to the loss of representation at South American and FIFA levels.

"Our task is to rebuild those ties. 

"We have to sit down with the FIFA president, and hire the best professionals to reduce the sanctions."