‘Têtes Plongeantes’ sparks high-stakes dialogue on athlete mental health in Lagos

Following its groundbreaking success in France in December 2025, where it generated 10 million views and catalysed a national shift in how the sports world approaches athlete well-being, the documentary Têtes Plongeantes, recently held its highly anticipated Lagos premiere at the Alliance Française de Lagos.

Co-Produced by Franco-Nigerian entrepreneur Wale Gbadamosi Oyekanmi for Booska-P, Génération 2018 and So Press, the documentary, which features intimate accounts from French World Cup winners, successfully exported its mission to Nigeria, sparking a vibrant and long-overdue conversation on mental health in the Nigerian sporting and professional landscape.

The premiere served as a catalyst for breaking the silence surrounding psychological health. The screening was followed by a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Chude Jideonwo, which explored the shared pressures faced by elite performers in both France and Nigeria.

After an introduction to the screening by Wale Gbadamosi Oyekanmi, co-producer of the documentary, who discussed the vision of bringing this French-born initiative to the Nigerian audience, the panel featured a powerhouse lineup of voices including Desire Oparanozie, a professional footballer who provided a critical perspective on the unique vulnerabilities she faced; Ebunoluwa Collins (COO of Blueroom Care), a leading expert who outlined actionable pathways for mental healthcare in Nigeria; Subair Disun, a young Lagosian who shared his mental health experiences and treatment and was moderated by Chude Jideonwo, author of ‘How depression saved my life’ and the founder of withchude.com podcast.

Têtes Plongeantes, which is available on YouTube, has been instrumental in dismantling the ‘tough it out’ stigma that often defines high-performance environments.

“I experienced what Samuel Umtiti shared in the documentary, not prioritising your mental health over your career can be deadly, Oparanozie said.

By bringing these conversations to Lagos, the organisers have effectively mirrored the impact the film achieved in France, where the participation of World Cup heroes helped normalise the idea that mental struggle is part of the human experience, not a failure of character.

“The resonance we saw tonight confirms that the desire for mental health support transcends borders,” stated the co-producer. “Just as this documentary helped start a movement in France, we are hopeful that today’s event marks the beginning of a sustained, structural change in how mental health is prioritised and discussed across Nigerian society.”

The event successfully positioned mental health as a critical pillar of professional success, moving the narrative from taboo to essential conversation.

“If a young person feels less alone after watching this film or an excerpt and reacts by asking for help, then we have succeeded. As Gaëtane Thiney says, what we are doing will give a lot of strength to everyone,” Gbadamosi Oyekanmi said.

Têtes Plongeantes (Diving headers) is  a collaborative project between Booska-P, Génération 2018 and So Press. Through raw and candid storytelling, the documentary highlights the psychological realities behind the glamour of elite sports, encouraging athletes and the public alike to seek help and embrace vulnerability as a cornerstone of strength.