each group and the four highest ranked third-placed teams advanced to the round of 16. From then on the tournament proceeded with a knockout phase. Match ball CAF announced the official match ball named Toghu on 23 November 2021. It was made by English manufacturer Umbro. Mascot The mascot, "Mola", was unveiled on 17 May 2021, during a ceremony in Yaoundé. He was a lion and his kit bore resemblance to Cameroon's home colours, with words saying "Cameroon" with "2021" on the top and bottom of the kit. Match officials The following referees were chosen for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, with two referees from CONCACAF assigned. The list consists of 24 referees, 31 assistant referees and eight video assistant referees from 36 countries. Referees Mustapha Ghorbal Hélder Martins Rodrigues de Carvalho Joshua Bondo Pacifique Ndabihawenimana Blaise Yuven Ngwa Mahmoud El Banna Amin Omar Bamlak Tessema Weyesa Daniel Nii Laryea Bakary Gassama Mario Escobar (CONCACAF) Peter Waweru Boubou Traore Dahane Beida Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall Rédouane Jiyed Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo Salima Mukansanga Maguette N'Diaye Issa Sy Bernard Camille Victor Gomes Sadok Selmi Janny Sikazwe Assistant referees Abdelhak Etchiali Mokrane Gourari Jerson Emiliano dos Santos Seydou Tiama Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue Carine Atezambong Fomo Issa Yaya Soulaimane Almadine Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal Ahmed Hossam Taha Sidiki Sidibe Liban Abdourazak Ahmed Gilbert Cheruiyot Souru Phatsoane Attia Amsaaed Lionel Andrianantenaina Mustapha Akarkad Lahcen Azgaou Zakaria Brinsi Fatiha Jermoumi Arsenio Maringula Mahamadou Yahaya Samuel Pwadutakam Olivier Safari Djibril Camara El Hadj Malick Samba James Fredrick Emile Zakhele Siwela Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim Khalil Hassani Dick Okello Video assistant referees Lahlou Benbraham Mehdi Abid Charef Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour Fernando Guerrero (CONCACAF) Samir Guezzaz Adil Zourak Bouchra Karboubi Haythem Guirat Draw The final draw was originally scheduled to take place on 25 June 2021, but was postponed to 17 August 2021. The 24 teams were drawn into four groups of six. Venues With the Africa Cup of Nations expanded from 16 to 24 teams, six venues were used across five Cameroonian cities. The six stadiums selected to host matches were the Olembe Stadium and Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, both in the capital Yaoundé, the Japoma Stadium in Douala, the Limbe Stadium in Limbe, the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam and the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua. The opening match of the tournament and the final took place at the newly built 60,000 seater Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé. Opening ceremony The