Nigerian canoe slalomist Johny Akinyemi is facing a race against time to make it to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games ©Twitter

Nigerian canoe slalomist Johny Akinyemi is facing a race against time to make it to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games after a delayed flight left him stranded in Frankfurt.

Akinyemi, who is set to become the first athlete from the nation to compete in the canoe slalom event at an Olympic Games, has completed the first leg of his journey to Brazil from Manchester to the German city.

According to the Manchester Evening News, there are only two airlines who have the capability to transport canoes, leaving him facing the possibility of missing out on making history.

In a post on Twitter this evening, however, Akinyemi said he was being flown to Rome and then on to Rio and "fingers crossed I will land tomorrow".

"But my kayak and coach have to stay in Frankfurt on standby with flights still looking fully booked for days," he said.

The slalom is the first of canoeing’s two disciplines to feature at Rio 2016, with events scheduled to be held at the Olympic Whitewater Stadium from August 7 to 11.

The facility in Rio was open today for the first training sessions for those due to take part in the sport at the Games.

Johny Akinyemi only received his canoe last week ©Twitter
Johny Akinyemi only received his canoe last week ©Twitter

“Monday 9am was due to be my first training session,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“They’re turning the river on and there’ll be two sessions a day.

“Most of the other competitors are already there, but I’m stuck here.

“We were around an hour and a half late taking off from Manchester on Sunday due to bad weather.

“They say there’s nothing they can do. 

"I’m just on standby for the foreseeable future, and even if I wanted to book again, there’s nothing available.”

The development leaves Akinyemi in limbo about whether he will make it in time to the Games.

It marks the latest difficulty for the Nigerian on his road to Rio after his purpose-built canoe, which cost around £1,500 ($1,970/€1,800), was damaged beyond repair by Swiss airlines.

The company paid compensation but he was made to wait for a replacement, which only arrived last week.

“It means I have to wait in Frankfurt really,” the Nigerian, who has funded his £1,600 ($2,100/€1,900) flights out of his own pocket, added.

“I can’t plan anything.

“It is difficult to know when I’ll get there.

“It has been a tricky build-up, to say the least.

“You just want things to run smoothly - I really need to get there.”