[1] In 1972, the club won the Angolan provincial football championship.

Following the country's independence in 1975 and in an attempt by the communist regime to erase all traces of colonial rule, the club which has been created as an affiliate to S.L.

Benfica was ordered to change its name and therefore became known as Estrela Vermelha do Huambo (Huambo Red Star) as it participated in the first edition of the country's post-independence premier league and later on to Mambroa.

In a General Assembly meeting held on March 10, 1990, the club's name was reverted to its original denomination, and since shortly after independence, the Portuguese-named city of Nova Lisboa had changed to Huambo, so did the club's name.

The club is the owner of the 15,000-seat Estádio das Cacilhas stadium.