China could hold a top position in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after it gave up the effort to have a say in football's world governing body FIFA last year, a report said.

Zhang Jilong, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) vice president, has left Beijing for Manama, Bahrain where the AFC will hold the election on Thursday.

Zhang, 63, will run for the post of the first vice president and his winning chances look set, Beijing Youth Daily said on Tuesday.

Zhang replaced Vernon Manilal Fernando of Sri Lanka who was suspended last month for ethics violations in 2013.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter then said Zhang would complete Fernando's four-year mandate until 2015.

Zhang's appointment meant that 2022 World Cup organizer Qatar remains without a delegate at FIFA's decision-making top table.

The CFA last year decided not to enter Zhang for the executive committee position election in FIFA, citing fierce competition and Zhang's failure to land the post in 2011.

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