 Pari gbolohun ti o tẹle: Rifai bẹrẹ igbega rẹ ni ipo kariaye ni ipele ọdọ ati ṣoju Siria ni 1994 AFC U-19 Championship ti Siria gba, o tun ṣoju Siria ni 1995 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Pẹlupẹlu, o dije pẹlu ẹgbẹ agbalagba ni : 1996 AFC Asian Cup ati pe o tun ṣe ere fun Siria ni 1998 FIFA World Cup. 