Australopithecus afarensis to stop being considered the best candidate for genus Homo ancestor by the end of 2025?

Up until recently, the Australopithecus anamensis was believed to be the direct ancestor of Australopithecus afarensis, who in its turn was the direct ancestor of the first humans of the genus Homo.

The discovery of a new fossil in 2016, however, demonstrated that both species - anamensis and afarensis - existed during the same period, meaning there was likely no linear evolution from one species to another.

Although that discovery does not refute that the Australopithecus afarensis - whose most famous fossil is the so-called "Lucy" - gave rise to the genus Homo, it does open the possibility to reevaluate the role of Lucy's species in the evolutionary line currently accepted for the human species.

If by December 31, 2025, a new-found fossil is considered a better candidate for the ancestor of the genus Homo than Australopithecus afarensis, this question will be resolved as "yes".