 Despite playing for First Division side Al-Kawkab, Al-Nafisah made the national team squad for the 1984 AFC Asian Cup.Al-Nafisah famously scored the first goal in the final against China as the Falcons won the match 2–0 to win their first Asian Cup title.Years later, Al-Nafisah stated that he did not expect to start the final and was in disbelief when Khalil Al-Zayani called out his name when reading the line-up.