Sort column when using countif & sumif functions

Hi all,
I'm having trouble using sorting data using countif and sumif functions.
If i want to sort the column where i have a countif or sumif function, i can't keep the reference to the cell i need. For example, I need to count how many "A"s between A2:A5, so i have countif(A2:A5,A1), where A1 is “A". When i sort this column, if "A" gets sorted to another row, the formula will go to the new reference, but stays in the same cell, meaning A1 is now some new condition, say "B", but the forumula is on the same row as "B", but counting "A"s.

I tried locking, A$2:A$5, A$1, this works, but i can't do the same for all when i have some hundred or even tens of rows worth of data ...

This problem happens for Sumif as well.

Is there any way to make sorting work using these -if functions?

Thanks!