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New AFA chief Claudio Tapia gives backing to coach Edgardo Bauza

Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza has received the backing of new Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia following their first formal meeting.

Tapia, elected on March 29, met Bauza and Marcelo Tinelli, the head of Argentina's national teams committee, in Buenos Aires on Thursday.

"During the meeting different issues were discussed, such as the senior national team, and all parties agreed to meet again next week," an AFA statement said.

Bauza has been under pressure with Argentina struggling to reach the 2018 World Cup. They are fifth in South American qualifying with four games to play.

Only the top four are assured of spots in Russia, with the fifth-placed team heading to a continental playoff.

"I leave the meeting with a good impression of Bauza, whom I didn't know," Clarin reported Tapia as saying.

"We have to continue to work, we have to continue to get to know each other."

Some newspapers in Argentina have claimed the AFA hopes Bauza will resign so it can avoid having to pay him compensation.

Clarin hit out at "the absurd novel of the longest sacking in the world" while Ole reported that the AFA was waiting to confirm a new coach over Easter before partying company with Bauza.

La Nacion said Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli was the leading candidate to replace Bauza, having turned down the opportunity to coach Argentina in August.

Ole reported that Sampaoli would only agree to guide the national team if given a long-term contract to run until the 2022 World Cup.

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