As well as losing the 2021 final to Senegal on penalties, Salah was also an Afcon runner-up in 2017 against Cameroon.
Now 33, he will have to do it the hard way from here if he is to finally lift the trophy, with either Nigeria or Morocco waiting in any potential final on Sunday, 18 January.
But he now has four goals at this tournament – his best total at an Afcon – and 11 overall, drawing him level with his coach Hossam Hassan and putting him one behind Hassan El-Shazly, who holds the record for the Pharaohs.
Heading into this game, the weight of history was certainly with Egypt, who had a dominant record against their opponents.
After this victory, the North Africans have now played Ivory Coast 12 times at Afcon and lost just once.
Marmoush looked sharp from the off and robbed a dawdling Odilon Kossounou of the ball just outside the penalty area before speeding through and finishing confidently past Yahia Fofana for the opener.
Hossam Abdelmaguid then gave the West Africans a warning, heading over an empty net after Fofana came out to punch a free-kick but got nowhere near the ball.
Ivory Coast, however, did not learn their lesson as Rabia’s far-post header from Salah’s corner doubled the advantage not long after, with the ball taking a slight touch off Ibrahim Sangare before looping over the despairing Fofana.
While the Elephants looked all over the place at the back, they were a danger going forward, with Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand’s physical presence causing problems.
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, however, was quiet throughout and unable to exert any great influence on proceedings.
Fatouh’s own goal came five minutes before the break, with the defender unable to adjust his body position as the ball hit him almost on his own goalline after Kossounou flicked on Yan Diomande’s free-kick at the near post.
Salah’s goal seven minutes after the restart was the pick of the bunch, started by a chip over the top by Rabia which Emam Ashour was able to run on to before feeding the Liverpool forward, who just about held off his man to toe poke home.
Fofana then saved well from Mohamed Hany, while Ivory Coast midfielder Christ Inao Oulai was perhaps fortunate that the video assistant referee did not take a second look when he appeared to kick out gently at Marmoush, who went down in a heap.
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