Depay Explains Adowa Dance Celebration After Scoring for Netherlands

Memphis Depay and Jeremie Frimpong celebrated their goals for the Netherlands with a special dance during their 4-0 victory against Canada in an international friendly on Thursday.

Both players, who have Ghanaian heritage, performed the Adowa dance, a traditional dance from Ghana, after Depay scored the opening goal in the 50th minute.

The first half had ended without any goals, but the Netherlands came alive in the second half. Depay’s goal was followed by Frimpong’s strike seven minutes later, with Wout Weghorst and Virgil Van Dijk adding to the scoreline to secure a comfortable win for the Dutch team.

Depay expressed his joy in celebrating with Frimpong, saying it was a tribute to their Ghanaian roots. “I was doing a Ghanaian dance with Frimpong after my goal. He is a Ghana boy like me. Of course we represent The Netherlands but this is in our blood,” Depay remarked.

This is not the first time Depay has celebrated with the Adowa dance; he did the same after scoring in Atletico Madrid’s 3-1 win over Granada in La Liga last year.

Depay and Frimpong both chose to play for the Netherlands despite interest from the Ghana Football Association.

Recently, Depay and his teammate Georginio Wijnaldum visited Ghana, where they enjoyed boxing and interacted with aspiring boxers.

Depay also learned the Adowa dance during a visit to the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind. Currently, Depay is a free agent after his contract with Atletico Madrid ended in June.