Heading into this game, Morocco had never beaten Cameroon at an Afcon in three previous attempts.
The last meeting between the teams at the finals had been played nearly 34 years ago to the day – and since that time the Indomitable Lions have added three titles, giving them five in total, in comparison to their opponent’s solitary triumph from 50 years ago.
But after more than a decade of serious investment in facilities, infrastructure and coaching, the balance of power now lies firmly with Morocco, and Regragui’s side truly showed their dominance here for the first time in the tournament.
Fans inside this upgraded 69,500-capacity stadium, which will be used for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, urged on their team with thunderclaps while whistles greeted every spell of Cameroonian possession.
It was an electric occasion which their opponents’ young and inexperienced side struggled to cope with, particularly in the first half when Morocco’s press constantly put them under pressure.
It led to a succession of corners and free-kicks inside the first half hour and the Indomitable Lions finally buckled when Diaz, who scored three goals in the group stage and Morocco’s winner in the last-16 win over Tanzania, managed to stay onside by the finest of margins to show composure in using the upper part of his leg to control the ball into the net from El Kaabi’s downward header.
Both El Kaabi and Abde Ezzalzouli fired efforts into the side netting, while Cameroon were not helped by losing right wing-back Junior Tchamadeu to injury.
As tempers flared, captain Nouhou Tolo was booked for a cynical hack from behind on Diaz in the centre circle and there was a melee on the touchline involving both benches after Morocco tried to stop play with Ezzalzouli down and Cameroon attempting to continue.
While the second half was a more even affair, the hosts always felt in control.